Tanglewood Reviews

If you enjoy classical music, this is the Mecca. The BSO has a 10 weeks series of concerts during the most beautiful time of year. The surrounding area is packed with great restaurants and other cultural treasures.

The grounds of Tanglewood are beautiful, and a short stroll offers a magnificent view of a lake and mountains. The atmosphere is laid back, and perfect for listening to one's favorite entertainers.

The Tanglewood grounds are magical. But.....not so nice if it rains!!!! You can purchase tickets for the shed, but in my opinion, its just not the same!!!!!

We were there in mid-week and went ot a piano concert at Ozawa Hall. It is a smaller venue than the Shed, but ti still allows patrons to sit on the lawn in an intimate setting. We were lucky to hear two Shubert pieces and one Scrabini. The artist was quite good and played five small encores. We come to Tanglewood often on the weekends but this quick trip to the smaller venue .was a real treat. The sound is great and the quiet and beautiful surroundings enhance the experience.

My wife and I came to the Berkshires specifically to see this wonderful venue for the opening of the 2019 Boston symphony, and walked the grounds and appreciated the way the music filled the summer night air. Great facilities for everyone's needs and 2 great gift shops. Check out the whispering bench. And the creepy Aaron Copland bust.

We return each year to Tanglewood for Tanglewood on Parade with lowest price seats in case it rains, but have always enjoyed (so far) good weather and stay at our picnic lawn location. This year we added 5th row seats for the Josh Grogan event and although the tickets were 5 times the lowest price we normally get, it was worth it to see and hear him up close. LOVE ANY TANGLEWOOD EXPERIENCE.

Tanglewood is a National treasure! So beautiful in every way. We saw a concert Tuesday night (The Pretenders). Sound system was outstanding. We returned the next morning for the free guided 90 minute tour at 10:30. The guides were so very knowledgeable and great in every way. We learned the differences between the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Pops, and the Boston Pops Esplanade. Even though I grew up in the Boston area and thought I was very familiar with the BSO and the Pops, there was so much I never knew! I highly recommend taking in a concert at Tanglewood, or even just visiting or touring the grounds. You will not regret it!

No better way to enjoy live music than under the stars, in your own comfortable lounge chair, with good wine & cheese. Close your eyes, let your head drift back and let the sound of the music just waft over you. Whether it’s classical, jazz or contemporary music Tanglewood offers it all. A wonderful way to expose kids to classical music from babyhood on up! I brought mine in their pjs and they fell asleep to the sounds of Mozart, Brahms & Bach. Glad I did since they don’t listen to it anymore in schools. Also/went for jazz & contemporary. Now they listen & appreciate all music!

I have been wanting to go to Tanglewood for years. We went on July 11th to see Avi Avital on the Lawn at Ozawa Hall, and I’m glad we did. He was excellent, of course, but so was the venue. So enjoyable with the acoustics and the visuals “en plain air”.
On a more mundane level, parking, access and egress, are all well organized and controlled. Despite the enormity of the crowds, the managed process was seamless. Lastly, ordering tix on line is easy, and if you have any questions, the box office people are pleasant and courteous. Have fun!.

The setting is beautiful. The open air shed, the beautiful lawn with the many old shade trees and the gracious staff all contribute to the mood. We have been coming for years and everyone always seems to be in good mood.

We used to schlep the lawn chairs and the cooler to picnic on the lawn. And while it was fun, the possibility of rain or high winds led us to now buy reserved seats in the Shed. This gives us the flexibility to either sit outside or in depending on the weather or our mood. For example, this year we arrived about an hour prior to the afternoon concert and sat in the small cafe relaxing with a glass of wine. Perfect!

The Boston Symphony always delivers something special and this year it was Beethoven's Piano Concerto #1 with the wonderful Yuja Wang as the soloist.

Practical Tip: get tickets on the left as you face the stage. This will put you close to the restrooms and the entrance/exit.

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Won tickets to hear Reba MacIntire. Fabulous venue. Great place to enjoy a picnic lunch. The speakers outside sounded great.

We were there for the July 3 James Taylor concert. Super crowded, but they did an amazing job of traffic control, helping people find their way around, etc... The "Shed" seats are comfortable and the ushers were helpful.

We were doing a two week tour New England so we came here for a concert on our one night in Lenox. It has beautiful grounds and a fascinating history. We enjoyed the home tour, grounds and snack bar

We have similar pavilions in Texas so I was surprised the shed still has dirt floors and was looking a little shabby. Our chairs had been replaced with odd replacement chairs. I guess they’re trying to keep things historical but it looked a little worn out to me.

We were in the back of the covered area but the sound was good and the concert was great.

Tanglewood is a national treasure, but concert prices--especially for popular artists--keep climbing higher. However if you sit on the lawn to listen, you can often save half of what the cheapest inside ticket would cost: @ $20 to $30 savings per ticket. And you can make it work for you:
Tip #1. Don't buy your ticket until you get there to make sure it's not raining, and also save on online handling fees of $6.50 per ticket.
Tip #2. Bring folding chairs, or rent them there for $5 each. If it's sunny, get there early and sit under a tree or bring a beach umbrella. We always do. (There aren't many trees, and space below gets taken early.)
Tip #3. Bring a picnic. We like to bring wine, cheese, french bread, salmon, pate, crackers, chips, dips, grapes and the like. Remember, you've just saved $50 on your tix, so indulge.
Tip #4. In addition to your chairs, bring a blanket so you can claim space for stretching out, enjoying your picnic, or keeping others from sitting too close. (Most people do this.) If it's a cool damp night, bring a plastic tarp to lay under your blanket. We also bring a picnic basket to use as a table. If it's night, you might bring some candles.
Tip #5. There are a few big projection screens to allow you to see the performers inside. Before you pick your spot, make sure you're near one.
Tip #6. When there's a break in the action, leave your blanket and chairs, and take a stroll in the direction opposite the theater to see the gorgeous Stockbridge Bowl: the beautiful lake and mountains in the distance.
Enjoy the total (and frugal) experience!

Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, tucked into the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, but it is so much more than that. First off and arguably the primary reason to visit it - the unparalleled beauty of the place. There is nothing like a beautiful summer day to stroll around the expanse of manicured lawns, beautiful centuries-old trees and formal gardens. The over 300 acre site was constructed from two estates of wealthy patrons who donated the land to the Boston Symphony over the last 80 years. The property is open for free on days when a concert is not scheduled and available for a reasonable lawn-ticket price otherwise. In either situation, Tanglewood is the perfect place to bring a picnic lunch and just hang out and relax for an afternoon. Secondly, of course, is the wondrous music that can be heard there (either from the afore-mentioned lawn or within the vast music 'shed' for a more close-up look at the performers). Thirdly, it is much more than just a display case for one of the best American orchestras, but also provides a music school for up-and-coming young musicians. Often times, while enjoying the impressive grounds, one can hear them practicing and performing from one of the many auxiliary music venues and practice houses scattered throughout the property. Additionally, many contemporary artists like James Taylor, Melissa Etheridge, and Sting have appeared in recent years. Other highlights of each season are performances by the Boston Pops, Film Night highlighting movie music, and Tanglewood on Parade where the Symphony, Pops, and student orchestras play semi-classical music climaxing traditionally with The 1812 Overture complete with cannons and fireworks.

I will close by saying that Tanglewood is my favorite summer venue. I started ushering there as a teenager and now, 50 years later, enjoy this Berkshire 'gem' more than ever.

We enjoyed a perfect night at Tanglewood listening to great music as we enjoyed out picnic dinner. THe price for a lawn ticket is unbelievably cheap (seats in the "shed" aren't that bad either) and so relaxing and romantic.

And the BSO played West Side Story. The grounds are gorgeous! The employees very adept at moving large crowds of people (literally thousands) and cars with extreme efficiency. What a wonderful evening. If you’ve not been to a Tanglewood, do not delay. You will miss the time of your life!

Tanglewood is a great place to see a concert, the weather was perfect, able to sit on the lawn in front row. Got there at 4:30 for 8 PM show, were about 100 people in front of us, so pretty early to the show. Got a seat right up front, then walked around grounds, plenty to do and see to make 3 hour wait go by pretty fast. Worst part of entire night was leaving, traffic, as could be expected, was delayed, but overall great experience.

It had been decades since I was at Tanglewood but we went in June for AK. Loved it, great seats, well organized in and out, sound was great, helpful staff...hope to make it back there again!

Was invited to Tanglewood by friends during my summer stay in the Berkshires. Loved bringing a picnic, comfortable chairs, and spending the evening outdoors with friends. James Taylor is a local and apparently performs here every 4 of July weekend. I hadn't seen him in years and to see him perform in his home town in a small setting was such a treat. Bonnie Raitt did a surprise performance, so that obviously added to the evening. A beautiful and relaxing way to spend an evening in Lenox. Highly recommend.

Have gone for popular artists, 4th of July, and postcast recordings before. If it an artist you care about seeing (not just hearing) the shed tickets are worth it. The lawn is great because you can picnic and the views can't be beat. The customer service is consistently wonderful and professional. Concessions can be a little expensive and some popular artists performances get packed on the lawn, so get there early and bring your own dinner, but alsways worth it. We look forward to going every time.

Tanglewood is a complex of concert venues, classrooms, and other musical facilities. The large concert hall is the
huge shed. Ozawa Hall is much smaller, perfect for string quartets and sonatas. The acoustics are superb and sightlinrs are excellent.

Tanglewood is an outside concert venue situated on a country park setting.in Lenox, MA. You can have reserve seating in the covered shed and stage area or choose to get a lawn seat and park yourself anywhere you like on the grounds. Choose to see classical or popular music programs. There are many to choose from each summer.

We recently saw Roger Daltry and friends with the Boston Pops orchestra performing the entire Tommy rock opera. Absolutely amazing performances by all.

We had reserved seats in the shed, but knew to bring seats, a picnic dinner and a bottle of fine rose wine to enjoy on the lawn prior to the show. We savored our picnic, then returned the seats to the car, before taking in the show.

Yes, you can buy food and refreshments at Tanglewood, but the picnic was the way to go for us.

Parking ion the ground is included in the admission price. For a whole lot of people, they get people into the show and on their way home fairly efficiently. I guess practice makes perfect... or close enough to it.

This was our first time to Tanglewood, I was really looking forward to this performance. I checked their website in advance to get an idea of when to arrive. I knew there would be traffic, however they don’t tell you you might miss the concert all together. We had a 2 hour drive from home which brought us to the the line of traffic for parking about 5:45. Our gps read we had only 2 miles to go and should arrive by 7:45 pm. I was ok with that, we would have plenty of time to get to our seats and enjoy the performance. Jump ahead over 3 hours later and we were still being waived on to the next parking lot. By 9:15 we were still in line waiting for a spot. We asked one of the parking attendants when we should have arrived. His response was for an 8:00 performance it was best to arrive by 3:00 pm. That’s not mentioned on the Tanglewood site. We were also told once intermission begins, we wouldn’t be able to enter. So as 9:30 approached, we turned around for our 2 hour drive back home. We gave it our all but in the end, lost out on what I believed to be a great performance. We left defeated and extremely disappointed. I’m sure many others had the same experience. There was still a long line of traffic behind us. Did they over sell tickets? I don’t know, but I can only imagine how many people spent money for this evening only to be disappointed, possible angry at how poorly this event was handled, not to mention the money all the would be attendees have lost.

For those who have never been to tanglewood I highly recommend it. This is one of the few places that is absolutely incredible...I have seen many concerts here from the BSO as well as individual artists. It is a great place for family or romantic or even individuals. You can do your own thing at your own pace..A MUST VISIT...

First visit to Tanglewood- beautiful large property- get there shortly after 4 PM to get closer parking - you will do a lot of walking to the stage area up a hill. Next time i want to do lawn seats to spread out and lay down.

Whether you want the peaceful Sunday afternoon on the lawn with classical music, or the fun in the shed with Harry Connick Jr or Roger Daltry, you can’t beat Tanglewood. Free parking, easy in and out for cars, abundance of ushers to help, it’s a pleasant experience for all.

Have been to concerts at Tanglewood but just walking the grounds is equally inspiring; the crowds are gone and the place just exudes peace.

It was an 8pm show and we arrived around 630. Not a terrible wait to park. We brought food and blankets. We rented lawn chairs. The grounds are beautiful. The Boston Pops are great. Only dark spot, was the lightning, which eventually led to some rain. People at the concert seem to come prepared for anything and everything. Go and enjoy

The place is incredible. Just saw Van Morrison and loved it. On the bad side. 1: Tickets, You can't access them until 2pm on the day of the show. They are some kind of refreshing QR code. You have to show it to get into the shed, but their wifi doesn't work near the shed and with thousands of people around their is no cellular service. This means you have a hard time getting in because accessing your ticket it hit or miss. One of the volunteers pointed out a place were the wifi was boosted, and it worked but it was very inconvenient. 2: Most, not all of the volunteers were rude. I was hot and went to stand where the was a breeze. I was told "This is a walkway and you have to move along. It was a 20ft wide open area with almost no one there. I saw her do the same thing to numerous other patrons. We had friends in other seats that left early. You will have to believe I am not making this up. A man near them collapsed. His wife said he was diabetic and over heated. Could someone get some juice or Gatorade. The volunteer responded. I swear to god. Those things are not allowed in the shed, only water. 3: Parking is a nightmare. Over a thousand cars on grass, with steep hills. Getting out can literally take a couple of hours. Then you are shunted on to back roads. You better know your way around or have GPS. Don't forget to down load offline maps if you use google maps, because remember you may not have a cellular connection, So when you finally get out of the parking lot. Do you go right or left. We had a great time overall. But between the staff, the ticket system and the parking. John and George would have to resurrect, and reunite with Paul and Ringo, before I would go to a large concert there again.

We went to see outdoor James Taylor concert at Tanglewood on July 4th and it was awesome ! After concert over, there were fireworks ! Beautiful outdoor grounds and very clean bathrooms ! Recommend anyone to check the concerts schedule and go enjoy listen music ! Bring blankets and foods and chairs and relax!

We visited Tanglewood for the John Williams film night. It was a beautiful evening. Plenty of spots to sit on the lawn and lots of options to purchase food if you didn't bring your own. People go all out and bring elaborate "picnics". The music was fabulous. Our kids really enjoyed being outside, eating and listening to music.

Beautifully performed production of Candide by the Knights. The acting and singing by this group of artists was excellent and the musicians were on point musically, as well as joining in the merriment of the cast, especially for the “Syphyllis” number. It is right and just to devote so much of the cultural programs this summer to Leonard Bernstein’s musical genius on this the 100 anniversary of his birth.
Our seats in the second row caused us some concern as they were smack up against the stage, and we feared we might meet some of the dancing actors a bit too up close and personal, as well as be blasted away from the orchestra pit. But the musicians were placed behind the actors onstage, and seemed to play the music just for us, and we got to see great acting up close, not too close.
The harlequin theme of the secondary actors worked well, and the improbable circumstances of the characters who seemed well dead in one act reappearing in the next act worked with the whimsical, humorous treatment of the serious theme of the coming of age of Candide. An altogether delightful entertainment on one of our last summer nights in the Berkshires.

Picnic and a movie with orchestral sound. How can you go wrong? Our tween had fun with her parents and grandparents. Can't say that about many things.

We picnicked and so enjoyed hearing music in this casual atmosphere. We sat at the front of the picnic area, and made a day of it, hearing the Boston Symphony orchestra in the afternoon and YoYo Ma in the evening. By attending the first concert, we could stay through to the second concert, thus preserving our spot on the lawn. There are quite a few distractions at this location - as there was an aisle between our seats and the stage. However, sitting under the moon and stars and listening to YoYo Ma's exquisite cello overcame any mild inconveniences!

This was my first trip here and I brought my 2 granddaughters for Tanglewood on Parade. This place is amazing! It is also huge. It kind of puts Saratoga PA to shame it's so big...but both are just as nice as each other. We walked out feet off...I was glad I brought my cane...I'm 68 years young and it definitely helped. Unfortunately we got rained/stormed out...but I look forward to going again, without the rain.

Bring a picnic and some chairs and enjoy whomever is playing. You can't go wrong on a warm summer night!

There is no place like it!
Bring a picnic and sit on the lawn or sit inside.
If you want to experience James Taylor on July 4th, buy the tickets early.
The Koussevitsky Music Shed 5,000 sell out and they only(!) sell 13,000 on the lawn.
After the concert ends, you won't find even one scrap of paper on the lawn.

Attended Diana Ross concert. Arrived three hours early to take advantage of the ample free parking and park like setting to sit on the grass, have a snack and read my book for a while before the show.

Beer garden and alcohol sold on site, but only consumed in set area. Ice cream scoops sold that you can take out. You can bring your cooler and chairs and picnic on lawn. You can buy cheap admission tickets with lawn access. More expensive seats are sold under the "shed" that are sturdy, wooden old fashioned stadium seats. You can bring a pillow but is not necessary. Views are good under the shed, but music can be heard everywhere.

Ample bathrooms, lots of helpful staff around for directions, and rental folding chairs available for $5.00 a piece.

Good place to enjoy the show.

I've been to Tanglewood for a number of events and most recently for James Taylor's yearly concert on the 3rd (and 4th) of July and couldn't have thought of a better way to spend my birthday. Besides it's breathtaking beauty, It's a wonderful place to see a show. Whether sitting inside the shed or picnicking on the lawn, the large monitors and well place speakers insure everyone has a great seat. Love this place!

This venue is outstanding! And the staff members working the parking areas, the grounds and the pavilion have it down to a science! I’ve never seen a crowd get disbursed so easily...

I was able to enjoy two concerts there this summer. One was an evening performance where we had grounds tickets. The second was an afternoon concert where we had assigned seats in the pavilion. Both options were enjoyable and we had a great picnic under the stars while watching the evening show both in the distance and on the big screens.

Two suggestions for a better time: it’d be great if the daytime shows were also projected on the big screens. It was hard to see the artists even being inside the pavilion. Second, ask people to remove their hats inside of the pavilion! It's really difficult to see through a broad brimmed, floppy hat! I’d think the wearers might realize that and remove it themselves but if not, maybe a gentle request would help!

Pleasant first time visit, to see Earth Wind and Fire. You can see why other outdoor venues, are modeled after this gem. We had seats inside. But, a larger crowd was on the lawn, that towed in their own coolers.....and did not leave when the show was over either ! Alas, like any other concert, dopes sticking their phones in the air to record, were there too. People need to enjoy the event, and not disrupt others views while they brag to people on FB... Great place, check out the schedule and go !

Tanglewood is a lovely place to spend a summer evening or afternoon enjoying a concert. Food is available but most people take a picnic, simple or elaborate! On previous visits we took our own chairs and sat on the beautiful lawn. (Chairs can be renter for $5, but again most people take their own.) On this visit we decided to splurge and bought tickets for the "shed". We wouldn't do it again! The seats are very hard, the floor is dirt, and everyone stood for the whole performance making it impossible to see if we didn't stand. Plus people moved from seat to seat constantly, lots of confusion. You can't see from the lawn, but the sound is good and it is peaceful.
Some advice. Parking is free in grassy fields. Wear comfortable shoes for your walk from parking. It is also a good idea to arrive several hours before the performance to park closer and claim a good picnic spot. There are plenty of clean restrooms.

After years of attending Beethoven's 6th & 9th symphonies by the Boston Symphony Orchestra, we were drawn back by the lure of Roger Daltry doing the rock opera TOMMY with the Boston Pops. Free parking, pleasant staff and a spot on the lawn with our wine, cheese & crackers. It doesn't get much better than this!

The Shed is a great place to see a show / hear a concert, the grounds are terrific for walking, picnicking, or watching said entertainment cheaply. There is a gift shop that is nice but not spectacular, food vendors that are very good (we had some great sandwiches from the grill). Other buildings have other purposes (there is a historic home that you can tour, and other buildings used for eduction/performing as well).

If you've never been to Tanglewood when you are in the Berkshires, it is a wonderful must go to. Whether you go to hear a top name performer or just for an relaxing musical evening under the stars, Tanglewood is a memorable experience. The tickets prices are reasonable whether you picnic on the lawn or buy a reserved seat in the Shed. I attended with my family including my preteen and teenage granddaughters and we all enjoyed walking the beautiful property and picnicking on the grass before the concert. I've been to other concerts with reserved seats in the shed and some in smaller venues. All were wonderful. Look on their website for a schedule. You won't be disappointed.

We stopped in Lenox on the way home from a Maine vacation. It was on my bucketlist to listen to a summer concert from the lawn as the sun went down. It was fabulous! The setting is so lovely. All ages were enjoying themselves. Some people were obviously regulars and they came prepared with soft candles and small tables for their wine and cheese. Highly recommended!

Similar to Wolf Trap in the DC area, you can choose to sit on the lawn, which is a lot of fun (but remember, risky due to weather concerns, which occurred the night we were there). People had full-on dining set-ups out on the lawn - complete with table cloths, candles, etc. I wanted my teens to be closer in and eliminate the weather risks, so we sat "inside" (the sides are still open, but you are completely sheltered). Their favorite part of the physical space was the screens hanging half-way back to to allow for close-up viewing of the orchestra and soloists (there were some that night). Great camera work for all three of us who are musicians and came to see people in the orchestra that we knew personally. If you can't get seats in the front half, and you want a good view of the screens, sit in the center of the back section. Great acoustics. Easy to park. Bathrooms were ample sized to accommodate everyone. We absolutely loved our experience!

We bought tickets that were electronic but couldn’t access them because the WiFi was not working. Stood in one line then another only to be told,”well this is how it’s done”. We missed the show-why-because of THEIR internet They must get a better system, we were not alone standing outside trying to access our tickets. There were 100’s of us not going anywhere.

Attended the Boston Pops concert on Saturday, August 11th. The concert was scheduled for 8 p.m. At 7 p.m. it began to rain. The rain continued right up to curtain time. I expected a smaller than usual crowd. We later learned 20,000 attended. Luckily, our 4 Seasons Tour group had tickets inside the "Shed". We felt sorry for those who were sitting outside on the grass. Conductor Nielsen led the Boston Pops for the first hour. It was delightful. Then promptly at 9 p.m. John Williams took over the baton as Conductor. .He was warmly welcomed by the crowd. They cheered when the theme from "Star Wars" was played. This was followed by a short film introducing the music from "Close Encounters". Again, the crowd cheered. Music from "Superman" followed. There was even a musical salute to "E.T.". .At the end of the hour, Conductor Williams received a standing ovation. An encore followed. More applause. A second encore. More cheers when Williams left the podium. What an evening. Unforgettable!

tanglewood for a long as I can remember even as a kid and that was some time ago was a great cultural destination in the Berkshires and what a great trip to get out of NYC to go to

We went to see Reba McIntyre Sunday 330pm and got there at 2pm and already the parking lots are quite full.
We picnic at the lawn on blanket ... got recommendation from volunteer to sit towards the far right of the lawn(the pic of massive crowd is close to entrance) n still has a Jumbotron
Also bring a book or magazines to read like you are at a park to enjoy the sun.
There are food to buy for picnic inside(better value than picnic preorder online)
There are also lawn chairs to rent for $7.
There’s a chase lounge if you are chase clients with free water bottles and discounted alcohol....
The concert is fun and good acoustics.
But it’s really a fun experience and relaxing environment while taking in your favorite music act!

Tanglewood's Saturday morning rehearsals used to be a kid-friendly space for families to spread out on the lawn. Not anymore. We were there in August 2024 and were disappointed to see the staff scolding families who had the audacity to let their children play and dance on the grass while the music played. Unless your little one is the kind of kid who can sit quietly and read along with the sheet music, don't waste your time or money.

We went to Tanglewood this year for the July 4th celebration with James Taylor. Previously been there to hear the BSO. The JT day was packed. Very long lines, but worth it. Personally, I prefer going to the more regular, less crowded BSO days. You can sit in the shed, with great views of the venue or out on the lawn. On the lawn, you can't see the entertainment very well directly. However, they recently added large screens up on the shed where you can see what's going on quite well. We go mostly for the audio vs. the visual experience. Personally, I prefer the lawn where you can setup a blanket, chairs, table and bring a picnic lunch or dinner and yes, BYOB. Some people go all out with their setups. Ample parking in numerous parking lots, but you may have to hike 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the lawn/shed. I agree with others that there is no much shade on the lawn (shed is fully covered and shaded). Traffic can get pretty busy, so leave plenty of time. A truly wonderful place.

We were able to get box seats for the recent Film Night concert. Very comfortable with lots of legroom (I'm 6'6") and the last minute price on StubHub was just face value ($109 plus various fees). Oddly StubHub gave these seats a poor rating. The concert was everything it was cracked up to be - a special evening with John Williams hosting and doing some of the conducting at age 87. David Newman did most of the conducting, including a tribute to his father who was a mentor to John Williams. The music was magnificent and the film clips added an extra element of entertainment. We also lucked out with perfect weather. The only negative was that it was a sell-out event with something like 17,000 people attending, so there were long lines at the restrooms and food vendors, but they did a good job with moving traffic out of the parking lots after the event was over. Overall a great evening and a wonderful first Tanglewood experience for us.

First time to go to Tanglewood but won’t be my last. It was such an experience. The grounds were stunning and the performance was also amazing. We had shed seats but I think I would have enjoyed the lawn better. You can’t go wrong either way though. A must see for anyone!

From James Taylor to YoYoMa ... Tanglewood is always an escape, an opportunity to remember that there is truly magic in the world, and a wonderful way to recharge. Relax, refresh, repeat ... again and again!

I have been coming to Tanglewood for the last 50 yrs, every summer! This is a fabulous are to enjoy the great music of The Boston Symphony Orchestra, and other contemporary choices of music. The coveted shed is my choice for seating, as one is protected from inclement weather. I am very particular about y choice of programs, however,I always end up having to chose between two or three choices of programs.there is also outside seating on the lawn which is most pleasant if the weather cooperates. This yr. We took advantage of “date night” ticketing, which included our seats in the shed,and a lovey buffet dinner,and a tour of the grounds. This was most enjoyable, as it gave one insight as to how the area was acquired. We usually take in 3 concerts and sometimes a rehearsal. There are also other activities to take advantage of in the area. A very pleasant getaway!

I am very grateful that Tanglewood is less than 20 minutes from my home. I loved the Bernstein Centennial Celebration. I feel like it was once in a lifetime concert to attend at Tanglewood. The concert featured Audra McDonald, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, John Williams, Keith Lockhart, Michael Wilson Thomas and many more amazing artists.The tribute to Bernstein was appreciated by thousands of viewers. It was so nice not to hear one pin drop on the lawn! I believe it was one of the quietist Tanglewood concerts that I have ever attended. It was a perfect night and a great way to end the summer. Tanglewood does a good job making tickets affordable for patrons. I think it's definately a good bang for the buck.

For many, these are the chorus lines of a Chicago tune. Here the reaality is played out throughout the season. This mutil facted music/ philosophy plantation is a sprawling area of buildings, grassing knolls and botanical kalidescopes. Here one can stroll about ~ 1 hour at a l;easurely pace, taking in all the buildings and places of musical performances. Such a spenldor.

I took my daughter here for the Young People's Concert and we loved it! What a great atmosphere. I love the way it's easy to get in and out - parking was simple. Many, many people brought picnics and there were food options there as well. Please note children have free admission for lawn seating. When leaving if you want to avoid the traffic take your first left for a beautiful country drive that eventually loops you around back into town.

I just got back from the Van Morrison show at Tanglewood. The show was mediocre - Van was sick and the 9 piece band seemed like they had never played together before - but Tanglewood was Tanglewood and beautiful as ever.
A few comments though:
1. Exiting the parking was hellish and requires patience, something many of the Van fans seemed to lack. My partner and I were nearly assaulted by women attendees on two separate occasions for letting a car go before us.
2. The beer and wine licensing agreement is insane. Beer and wine is sold at the venue, however one is required to consume these drinks within a fenced in area and not allowed to bring drinks back to their seat on the lawn or in the shell. Yet, you can bring as many coolers into the venue as you want. This sounds like a licensing agreement designed to frustrate patrons and put vendors out of business.

My husband and I attended an evening performance and although one of the Tanglewood traditions is to bring a picnic and sit on the lawn, there's no need to do that. The cafe serves very good food. My choice for dinner was a portobella mushroom freshly grilled served on a bun with a big dollop of chutney, something I'd never had before but definitely will have again. My husband's choice was a hot dog, gourmet of course and he judged it to be very good. By eating at the Tanglewood cafe we didn't have to lug around picnic basket, food, picnic blanket and unencumbered we were able to walk around and look at the gardens before the concert. The concert again was very good. The only drawback in our visit was the weather: steamy hot. Therefore I recommend visitors wear something light and cool and bring a jacket or sweater to layer up in if the weather gets cooler. This evening it didn't. By the way, no mosquitoes. A beautiful area, a beautiful evening, All guides, guards, attendents were extremely courteous. The music was superb. A definite YES. (As always come early to get a good parking spot.)

My wife & I went to Tanglewood for the first time and it exceeded our expectations! The grounds are clean and well maintained.

There are decent food and drink options for sale, but you can bring your own and have a picnic on the lawn.

We will definitely go back at some point in the future.

Super music and a peaceful setting among the trees!.Don’t miss the Boston Symphony Orchestra for any concert.Seating in the Shed will guarantee you won’t get rained on andthere are no bad seats in the house.Acoustics are great!

We visited for one of the most popular concerts of the summer - John Williams Film night. We had a blast but there is planning involved. Book your tickets early as this is a very popular event. You can get lawn seats as well as seats in the shed which are more dear. We packed a picnic and rain gear as the weather can often be unsettled. We parked at the Lions Gate entrance. Getting there early is key to get parking and to find a patch of lawn that works for you. You can order food ahead time from Tanglewood food service. The concert was amazing and while John Williams was not there due to illness, he was missed and his brilliance was on full display. It’s a summer must do!

The music is wonderful, and lawn seats are free for kids to age 18. Great for couples and families. Bring a cooler with snacks and drinks (alcoholic or not, your choice) and stay as long as you like to enjoy the sun. Great concerts and a great time!

I’ll leave all the other 5-star reviews to speak to the incredible ambiance and grounds of this great venue. Having gone to 3 events over this long weekend, I would like to say one thing: Do NOT expect any food on the grounds to be anywhere near commensurate with the setting, clientele, or ticket prices. It is absolutely terrible. My wife and adult daughter said the barbecue sandwich they shared (from the Tanglewood Cafe and Grill) was the worst sandwich they had ever tried to eat. The couple we were with pre-ordered what sounded like nice turkey & cheese sandwiches from Tanglewood’s Meal-to-Go service, but they were also barely edible (picked up at the Tanglewood Cafe and Grill), and missing whatever sauce the pre-order menu said they included. I had a turkey wrap that was barely passable (same place). Besides pre-made wrapped sandwiches and the thoroughly awful BBQ sandwich, they had shish-kebab (chicken?), chicken fingers and fries, and (I think) pizza.

IMO, there is no excuse for such a great venue to have such a terrible selection of food. More people need to write and complain to get the management to up their game in this department.

FYI: If you order beer or wine from the several on-site places, you cannot leave their roped-off area with it to sit on the lawn, so BYOB if you want to do that.

Meanwhile, there are some great lunch places in nearby Lenox that you can get takeout sandwiches. Lesson learned!

An amazing show as always at Tanglewood. Loved the music (David Crosby still sings and plays with gusto). Tanglewood itself is a beautiful venue. Gorgeous scenery, great staff, terrific seating.

I have heard for my entire life about Tanglewood. Visiting there exceeded all my expectations. The groups are lovely. There is an air of peace and tranquility as well as gentle breezes on the hottest days. The concert I attended in the Oziewa venue was superb. It is so inspiring to see the variety of attendees from the youngest to the most Senior. Without idealizing Tanglewood it is worth noting that both the audience and the staff compete for kindness and consideration to others. A breath of fresh air. No pun intended

We attended a taping of Wait, Wait Don't Tell me at Tanglewood. It has been years since I last visited. I was not aware that BSO allowed other entities to use their venue. We laughed our butts off at the taping. I liked that we could have assigned seating or have a picnic on the lawn.

Will be an annual event in the future; would be easy to spend multiple days. The beauty supplements the music.

We enjoyed a great concert with the BSO conducted by the amazing Andris Nelsons at Tanglewood.

This was our first time at this beautiful venue and we are sure to return. The summer evening setting at Tanglewood overlooking the Berkshire hills is magical and the seating in the Shed was convenient and comfortable. Also would be great to bring a picnic and enjoy it there on the massive, beautiful park-like lawn. You can bring in chairs or rent them there.

Worth getting there early to get a good spot. Parking is ample even for large crowds and if you have an elderly person in your group, they will let you park in an "unregistered handicapped" spot without a handicapped plate, which makes things much easier to get in and out.

Expect to spend 20 minutes or so getting out of the venue after the concert due to traffic, which they handle and direct pretty well given the size of the crowd.

Food and drinks are served on site in a number of places, but if you plan to eat dinner before or after the concert, be sure to book early in a nearby town and eat early (5 or 5:30) in Lenox or Stockbridge to avoid the crowds attending the concerts.

There are many great restaurants in Lenox ( Frankie's Italian Restaurant, Alta, etc.) or in Stockbridge (including the historic Red Lion Inn which has a beautiful dining room and good food).

Be sure to check out Edith Wharton's House and the nearby Norman Rockwell Museum as part of your visit. The towns of Lenox and Stockbridge also have many nice shops, coffee places, etc.

There are many great inns and B&Bs to stay in in the area, including the Cornell Inn in Lenox, where we stayed on our visit, which is a short drive from Tanglewood.

We recently visited the Berkshires, and went to Tanglewood. It is a beautiful place...a park-like setting, with a gorgeous view of the Stockbridge Bowl. You can enter for free when there is not a show going on. We did the free tour, and as we walked, music was all around us because the orchestra was practicing. It was magical!!! People brought chairs and sat on the lawn to listen. We had brought lunch with us, and attended a free presentation called Music 101 which is offered only once or twice every summer. We sat and ate while listening for a bit to a violinist talk about music theory and playing at Tanglewood.
If you go to the Berkshires, go visit Tanglewood. Even if you don't attend a ticketed performance, you can still see the grounds and maybe hear some music in the air!!!

Tanglewood is a cultural treasure.... Enjoy music on a summer night or weekend afternoon. On this night we enjoyed James Taylor perform his his music with friends... James Taylor the same resides right here in Lenox MA.... Can usually be found every July 4th here at Tanglewood.... People all around visiting from all over the world to be serenaded while picnicking on the lawn... .peaceful and civilized ... Another Berkshire Treasure

This was my first trip to Tanglewood, although it had been on my bucket list for years. It really didn't disappoint, in fact it exceeded my expectations. Stunning setting and wonderful thatI could picnic on the lawn and bring whatever I liked, including my own alcoholic beverages. I didn't love that the website automatically had me down for a $27 sandwich (that I un-checked), and from what I've read and what I saw, bringing your own is definitely the way to go. I got there 2.5hrs early, had a leisurely picnic on the lawn and then packed my picnic basket back in the car before heading into the shed for the concert. I had great seats and loved being close but I'd equally just buy lawn seats next time and enjoy lazing on the lawn listening to the wonderful music and watching the sunset.

Saw Roger Daltrey, Simon Townsend and the BSO perform Tommy. Show was well done, sound was good but with a few minor glitches, same with camera decisions for big screens. traffic out was difficult. sat near back of shed, watched show more on the big-screens than on the stage.

I love Tanglewood. It’s a fabulous place. I write this review with sadness and conflict of emotion. I’ve been to Tanglewood many times over my lifetime but my July visit was the first time I was with an elderly person who needed assistance. My experience was disappointing and saddening, especially in light of how Tanglewood has held a special place in my heart for my entire life.

My experience was that there was no help. I was with my elderly mother. I had trouble getting her from the car to her seat and back again. I got NO help at any time and was referred to help in different directions several times... only making help “more out of the way”. I was yelled at like a dog by the police officer at one of the gates as my 90 year old mother sat in oppressive heat with no shade.

I wrote an email, I got a response but the process was iterative and continued to put the burden on me of repeating my story and returning calls, making me feel that I had more work and follow-up on my part rather than the venue. I requested the officer’s badge number and name as his behavior of not offering ANY help was deplorable. Since my initial complaint was made the same night and there’s only so many police officers at the gate I identified I felt that the venue could have done their research.

The police officer could have radioed for help, he could have shown concern. He was clearly more concerned about showing me he was in charge rather than helping a frail elderly patron.

Obviously Tanglewood has no real concern as my email was not given the attention it deserved and one review and one complaint will not stop people from visiting.

However, you should think twice about a place that puts no value on anyone needing assistance ... it makes me sad that one of my favorite venues is forever tarnished by such an experience.

Sadly one can’t count on the venue nor an officer with a badge to help....I imagine that officer’s behavior extends far beyond his duties as a traffic officer at Tanglewood and that should be addressed with the issuer of that uniform.

So sad on so many levels. Tanglewood has a lot of older attendees, it seems to me this should be a place that goes out of their way to make older people feel safe especially when one specifically reaches out seeking help.

Boston Pops, Symphony, top name artists perform in a totally idyllic setting. Be sure to book ahead for popular events such as Boston Symphony's opening concert or the annual James Taylor performance. Don't miss the free prelude concerts included with Symphony performances. Arrive early for parking . Lawn seating is available for picnicking. Beautiful location. Check weather.

We attended the August 12th rehearsal at Tanglewood. One of the composers was speaking at 9:30 am and we arrived in plenty of time to hear her. Parking was not an issue at all, but this was an early day. We could sit anywhere in the Shed to listen to her conversation. The actual rehearsal began at 10:30 am and we had assigned Shed seating. It was a glorious morning. The full orchestra rehearsed the program that would be performed the next afternoon. We had planned for this particular program because Yo-Yo Ma would be performing. Unfortunately, Covid sidelined him, but Renee Fleming sang Strauss and it was marvelous.

A couple of things to note. If you are sitting in the Shed, bring something to soften the seat - a cushion or blanket - since the seats are wood and uncomfortable. Also, the average age of the audience was 85 and fairly rude, both annoying and fascinating.

Awesome music venue in a beautiful location in the Berkshire’s. Attended a concert called live from here with many performers and artists. Especially enjoyed the band goat rodeo sessions and I’m with her. A great collection of talented musicians. We went early and picnicked on the lawn and then had seats inside the shed for the concert. Would recommend either option! Would be friendly to families with children as there are lots of areas to run around on the grounds. Will keep it in mind for future trips!

I've been to Tanglewood a few times and it's always delightful. I've seen James Taylor while sitting in the grass, which was wonderful. This show I had indoor seating which I prefer since the seats are close and there are less distractions than when one sits outside.

My visit to Tanglewood (for the last 50 years) is the highlight of summer for me.
The peaceful, exquisite spot is just perfect.
AND then the music. I am always transported.

My first trip to the Berkshires and we were able to get tickets to see the Boston Pops and Marc Martel doing Queen music. It was spectacular and so worth it. Loved the whole Tanglewood area and all that they offer. It is pristine and beautiful, food choices were good, seating and sound good but seats are hard.(Just FYI)

Fantastic! John Williams conducted his songs for half of the concert. What a treat! We saw many families enjoying this performance and the audience showed their appreciation with three call-backs. Mr. Williams saved the Star Wars theme song for the encore.

When did they start allowing canopies and umbrellas? Won't this ruin the view for everyone else? So used to an unimpeded view.

It is truly a treat to experience live music in person. The BSO is top notch and the performances are professional. We sat in the shed but many people prefer the lawn which is cheaper. The day we went was rainy so we were glad to be seated in the shed.

Tanglewood was beautiful. The grounds are well-kept and there was a lot of space for the 10,000 people that were there that night. It was nice to be able to bring in our own food and drinks. The bathroom line moved right along, there were a lot of stalls and it was pretty clean. The only thing that didn't make sense to us was that the jumbotrons that they put in were inside the dome, and the one outside was behind a tree. Why not put the jumbotrons on the outside of the building so the people outside can see?

First time at Tanglewood and it was wonderful, even on a rainy afternoon. Attended a Sunday afternoon BSO concert and had seats in the Shed. Sound is terrific and seats are comfortable. Grounds are a pleasure to walk. Compared to other similar venues a much more bucolic setting and laid back feeling. Only knock would be the food choices, which could be higher quality. There are no speakers on the lawn as the Shed itself is designed as one large speaker. Parking was easy and post-concert traffic moved quickly.

Tanglewood is just so beautiful overlooking the Stockbridge Bowl and the rolling hills.
Just when your visit to this musical wonderland couldn't get any better they have a Kripalu instructor on the lawn giving a yoga lesson. I went on a Saturday while the BSO was having a rehearsal in the shed for the following performance on Sunday. Lovely music, views, and easy going yoga. What a way to start the day! (14.00 dollar charge to participate).

This was such a great stay. While we were checking in the electricity had gone out from a storm that had just passed thru and the staff was so amazing and accommodating. The electricity was back on in no time. The food was good and the tower had good entertainment!

Yoga is done on Saturday mornings - cost is a be needs to purchase a ticket to the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s rehearsal. The instructor is one from Kripalu and today’s was great. Beginners to advanced filled the lawn overlooking the mountains. Try to sit closer to the center where the speakers are. We sat on the edges, but still fine.
After, brought our lawn chairs and sat on the grounds around the music shed listening. Great way to spend the day (without the evening crowds).

Such a cool experience. James Taylor's 3rd of July show in the rain. Bring a cart and be prepared to hike from the parking lot. Pack your own food and alcohol, it's allowed. Tents or large umbrellas are encouraged. The lawn was perfect. We didn't have the best view but we can hear just fine.

This was a fabulous experience. We went to three concerts. A feast of top quality music in a wonderful country estate setting. People picnicking in the park and then settling in for a superb concert from the BSO and top soloists. Visiting from abroad, despite research, we did not fully understand how it all works, so we simply booked seats for the concerts. We visited the estate earlier in the day and enjoyed the park and the views. And we enjoyed seeing all those who knew what they were doing and had arrived with picnics and, if they were lucky, founds spots near the open-sided concert hall from which they could listen to the music. This seems to capture the true spirit of Tanglewood. Even if we had known in advance, as overseas visitors we would not have had the equipment to picnic properly. But next time - and there will be a next time - we will buy suitable victuals from a deli, rent a picnic chair on site ($5), and join in. I think we would still reserve seats in the concert hall for the concert, though. This will ensure a good musical experience, and avoid the hazard of rain (and it did rain, hard, on one of our evenings there.
Because we had no picnics we tried the on-site catering. The Tanglewood Café is OK, especially the salad bar, if you don't mind eating from picnic bench tables. However the Tanglewood Grill is awful. Basically concession stands, and American fast-food at its worst. We were amazed that Tanglewood management permit this in what is otherwise a thoroughly classy operation. Avoid at all costs.

Title says it all. The concerts are always world-class and the grounds are well-manicured. Plenty of dining options. Helpful staff. Bathroom is old, sad and always smells bad (considering how nice everything else is). Some things can be overpriced like the $60 sweaters and $5 bottled iced teas but you can bring anything you want so if you’re on a budget just bring your own food and drinks and have a picnic!

Tanglewood is a must-do experience. It should be on anyone's bucket list. It's a gorgeous venue to picnic and listen to amazing music. We went for the John Williams Film night and it didn't disappoint. The music was beautiful, the weather was gorgeous and picnicking ahead of time was so relaxing. It is an amazing experience!

We just saw Emmylou Harris and Ry Cooder. The site is a beautiful setting and the staff very friendly and helpful. I think many are volunteers. The ride to the concert takes you through a beautiful part of America. Ry and Emmylou were beyond good.

We saw the Boston symphony orchestra with lawn seats. As it wasn't a famous artist we bought tickets as we arrived. We got there for 5 and the gates open at 5.30pm. There were already plenty of people there with their picnics. The atmosphere was great. It did get quite cool as the sun went down so take a jumper. There are large screens at the back of the shed ( the covered area with an open back where the stage and seats are) so we had a good view of the orchestra. There were people of all ages, large family groups and even an 80th birthday party. Well worth a visit, I'd definitely recommend it.

You go here for the whole experience of being outside. Picnics on the lawn looked amazing. We had seats in the music shed. All good, but important to note that it is a very gradual incline for seating as you move to the back. So even though the shed is not huge and you are relatively close to the stage (as compared to a stadium concert), sight lines are not as good as you'd think. There are projection screens for those in back. Food and drinks are available on site.

This was our Bucket List visit to Tanglewood to see the Boston Pops / John Williams Movie Concert. This was the best concert I have ever been too. Amazing to see John Williams conduct the last three pieces.
Before the concert we had dinner at the Highwood House.The food and service were well worth the $65.00 price per person Buffet. Cocktail prices were in line with the location. Highly Recommend the whole experience.

I live in the Boston area and like to go to Tanglewood for Friday or Saturday nights a couple of times each summer, but would rather not fight the traffic heading home on the Mass Pike late on Sunday after the very popular Sunday matinee performance. Solution: Saturday morning rehearsals. Most Saturdays at 10:30 AM, there is a rehearsal for Sunday afternoon's program. Shed seats are cheaper for the rehearsals than for regular concerts as you may not hear everything on the Sunday program, just the pieces that need some additional rehearsal time. I got a seat in the Shed for yesterday's rehearsal. What a privilege and a treat! Yesterday's rehearsal was for a performance of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra -- the Tanglewood students, not the Boston Symphony. These students are the cream of the crop in the orchestral world and they are full of energy and enthusiasm.

First they rehearsed a short piece by Aaron Copeland called "An Outdoor Overture" which he had written for a student orchestra in 1938. The second performance was a world premiere of a piece written by John Williams, not a movie score, for orchestra and two soloists -- none other than the amazing cellist Yo-Yo Ma and also amazing harpist Jessica Zhou. The piece called “Highwood’s Ghost, An Encounter for Harp, Cello, and Orchestra" was inspired by a Leonard Bernstein comment years ago that Tanglewood's Highwood Manor House was haunted. The third piece was Leonard Bernstein's "Three Meditations from Mass" which was written for solo cello and orchestra. Follow a break the orchestra rehearsed Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra.

Of course, every time the program is different, but I mentioned the specifics to give an example of what is possible. What a privilege to be able to see BSO conductor Andris Nelsons working with Yo-Yo Ma and the student orchestra to prepare the concert. We are so fortunate to have that kind of access to such incredible musical talent. If you get your tickets really early (I mean months ahead) you can get seats way down front where you can hear the conductor's instructions to the orchestra and see the interplay between soloists and everyone else.

Amazing! Thousands of people attended this incredible concert! James Taylor sounds exactly the same as he did when he began his career. His voice sounded clear and wonderful through the great system they have at Tanglewood. The thousands of people who attended surely had a great experience. The venue staff kept traffic flowing and were all available to provide information. I had never been to Tanglewood, but will definitely go again. Thousands of cars, lots of traffic, but amazingly the flow, supervised by the local police, got us in and out of the venue in a reasonable amount of time.
Kudos to the Lenox Police!

Cannot top the film night with John Williams, the man and the Boston Pops at Tanglewood is a must attend concert. A great family affair.

Highly recommend gorgeous setting ... great music venue... beautiful views ... great place to spend the day

Amazing music! Amazing venue! Amazing people!! This is the perfect setting to listen to any type of music. I've taken it in from inside the shed and on the lawn. Both are wonderful places to listen to some of the world's best music and the price really can't be beat.

I have been to Tanglewood many times and enjoyed all of my experiences. Go early and enjoy the grounds with a picnic. Bring a plastic ground cloth for under your blanket to protect from dampness if you will be on the lawn. Your roll around suitcase can store all you need but for seating. It’s a grand place where everyone still has manners!

For a long time I was convinced that classical music concert outdoors cannot beat the experience of great concert hall with excellent acoustic but I was very surprised how excellent my experience in Tanglewood proved to be. I had been to the 8pm concert and arrived quite early (the gates open at 5:30pm). First of all - there is plentiful parking and staff on hand to guide everyone to the best spot in a very organized way. Secondly - grounds are truly beautiful with views on the mountains, green lawns, beautiful trees and paths everywhere. There are several food options (foods ordered in advance to go, cafe with salad bar, basic hot dishes including grilled options, plenty of snacks - not much choice for vegans though so come prepared, ice cream, wine and beer), also bookstores and music CDs. Thirdly - plentiful bathrooms!
I had been sitting under the roof on wooden chairs while plenty of other visitors settled themselves on the lawn with tablecloths, wine glasses and even candles. The sounds under the roof amplified by electronics were not as great but quality of sound was actually pretty good on the lawn. We all watched sun setting down before the music started and then together enjoyed the concert. The atmosphere of relaxed enjoyment was very pleasant and made for overall great experience. I would love to return, sit on the lawn in the sun at an earlier concert and enjoy the experience again.

We stopped in here recently since on Sundays they are letting people in (free) so you can walk the grounds. I knew they had performing arts here with BSO but I didn’t realize how many facilities and buildings they have. It was nice to walk the trails. Can’t wait to go back to catch a show!

What could you say bad about this place? To come here, walk the grounds, enjoy a picnic, and hear great music is a gift to the soul. Don’t overlook the daytime options for music!

We bought tickets to see James Taylor on July 4. He and his band were outstanding. The complications for getting tickets, driving, and parking were horrendous.

We were stopped in traffic on West Street for 20 minutes despite people directing traffic. Access to parking lots were blocked off. Seats were not together. It's a good thing the performance was so good. Never again will we book for a holiday with a headline performer.

The Venice Baroque Orchestra made its Tanglewood debut with 19 members with mostly Vivaldi concertos. Featured soloists were concertmaster Gianpiero Zanocco on violin, Avi Avital on mandolin, and Anna Fusek on recorder. The Seiji Ozawa Hall on the Tanglewood campus has fabulous acoustics except if you are seated above or behind the orchestra when a speech is addressed to the audience. Otherwise, the performance was masterly and the sound glorious.

If attendees arrive early, they can have dinner at Cindy's Cafe located in the new Linde Center for Music and Learning. We saw the building under construction when we visited in July, 2018. It is a beautiful venue designed in part by the Tanglewood Learning Institute. Music students, featured artists, and patrons can mingle freely in the cafe.

This is such a peaceful place to stroll in and then listen to some of the worlds best performers. We heard Lang Lang here and since it was his first performance in a while since an injury we wondered what it would be like, as we had heard him in Philadelphia 10 years ago. He was even better than we remembered. What a great and entertaining evening. The Chopin peace was magical.

It is worth knowing that the shaded spots on the lawn tend to fill up at 12:30 for a 2:30 performance. As a hedge against rain(it didn’t) and very sunny conditions (it was) we also had relatively inexpensive tickets in the Shed and that worked out well. Parking close to the entrance can be an issue but a Handicaped plate makes it a breeze.

In any case the music and the atmosphere was wonderful.

Just felt the need to write a brief (?) note following our initial visit to attend a concert at Tanglewood. We attended the Bonnie Raitt concert last night. While the concert was sensational, as expected, ( how could it not be, it’s Bonnie Raitt ! ), the experience was infuriating. We had heard that the parking situation was problematic, but never did we expect the nightmare we experienced ! We believed that leaving our home in Otis Woodlands at 5:30 for a 7:00 concert start time would be sufficient. Boy were we mistaken ! We missed the entire opening performer, Lucinda Williams, and only made it to our seats by intermission, after sitting in our car for nearly 2 hours waiting to enter the parking lot. That’s really unacceptable ! It’s not like Tanglewood lacks experience in dealing with large crowds. The excuse given by one parking attendant that “we’ll all the concertgoers decided to come all at once,” couldn’t have been more lame. Or the assertion from another parking attendant that “we’re really very organized but there are a lot of people” just doesn’t cut it. We passed parking lots in which there were open spaces, but no parking attendant standing inside the lot alerting the other parking attendants who were directing traffic that there were parking spaces available. The nightmare parking experience certainly detracted from our overall experience and enjoyment of attending a Tanglewood concert. And missing the entire opening act was a great disappointment. We are forewarned now, in anticipation of attending our next Tanglewood concert, the James Taylor concert, that the ONLY WAY to attend a concert there is to plan to picnic in the afternoon and hang out until the concert begins.

We went to Tanglewood for the first time to hear Roger Daltry and the Boston Pops perform Tommy. We arrived early and were treated to the sound check while waiting in line. We had shed tickets. We had read tips from others on this site and brought in a picnic to enjoy on the lawn. We were able to quickly return the cooler to the car before the concert. Tanglewood stands out from other concert in that there is no fee for parking, plenty of parking lots and entrances, very little restrictions on what you can bring in... didn't see BBQ grills - which is fine, very friendly and knowledgeable staff and security, comfortable seats in the Shed, clean and lots of bathrooms, exiting from the parking lot was fast. Upstate New York concert venues could learn much from Tanglewood. Oh, and Roger Daltry, his band, Katie Jacoby and the Boston Pops made the evening magical.

Josh Groban was fantastic. Sound was clear. Night was calm warm and beautiful. Setting in the mountains ( Berkshires) seating was good. Recomend this venue to all

Bring your wine, cheese and crackers and a blanket to enjoy any show on the lawn. Love love love Tanglewood!!!

Tanglewood is always delightful. The grounds are exquisite, and the quality of music and entertainment is fabulous. It's simply a must when visiting the Berkshires.

Tanglewood is a gem in the heart of the Berkshires. The summer home of the Boston Symphony and a host of different artists. The best way to enjoy the music is to bring a picnic, something to sit on and to enjoy the concerts sitting on the immaculate lawns. Bring something warm and some fly repellant because the nights can get cool after sunset and the bugs come out!

He was excellent. We bought tickets for the concert and were in the shed. It was a beautiful night, the audience was great. The orchestra was terrific

Violinist Leonidas Kavakos performed at Tanglewood in August 2025 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He played the Korngold's Violin Concerto at the Koussevitzky Music Shed, and following his performance, the Boston Symphony Orchestra played Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2, conducted by Elim Chan. The conductor, violinist, and orchestra were fantastic!

Be sure and make reservations for Cindy's Buffet Dinner at Tanglewood - it is well worth it! We enjoyed such a variety of dishes and wines, all while listening to several live performances of classical music. Everything was very well organized, and exiting the venue was super fast.

Beautiful venue to go too. The show was excellent. The people working there were great . We also got food there.. The Latin food was very good and we ate outside at picnic tables. Plenty of beer and some drinks. Plenty of parking and its free unless you buy a pass. You have to go at least once.

Birthday trip with my girlfriend.
To see James Taylor. Get there early they say, well 2 hours early we were and the line was insane! Actually multiple lines of people. We sat like hurded cattle for hours in the beating sun. So sick from heat we are finally allowed in. Found a shaded spot and regrouped. 15 mins later downpours and it never let up. Soaked to bone, chairs full of water and concert didn't start for another hour. Nothing but puddles of water, everyone with or without a pop up tent was wet! People had to leave, couldn't sit in chairs or lawn. Dripping wet, my girlfriends make up just running down her face lol. It was obvious we had to go back to our hotel. The weather only got worse and thank God we left. News Article on the concert said people we trying to leave and not only was it pouring, people were stuck in mud and fighting thousands of people trying to get out at the same time. It is a beautiful venue for what I got to see. It was our first time there.
It's nice you can bring your own Food, drinks, tents, tables, but if your a smoker/vapor they prohibit. I'll be going back to see train at the end of august and hope to have a better experience. I will not get there early and take my chances at finding a seat And parking space. They don't open the gate until 5 PM. It's crazy to know people get there as early as 10 AM to get in line for a lawn seat..

What could be better than James Taylor?
I’m told its the high point of the Tanglewood schedule.
Huge crowd on the lawn.
Great Great concert. Taylor was warm and the band terrific too.
Extremely well run venue

We were recently visiting the Berkshires and one of our favorite activities is going to Tanglewood to listen to one of their rehearsals. It’s usually fairly empty and you can sit close and watch the musicians and hear the conductor giving feedback! It’s glorious. And not to mention easy in/out of the parking lot!
Well, I guess we had never been on a Saturday! I would guess more than 2-300 people, crowded parking, we had to buy tickets (very reasonable but the line took forever) and then the other people. Lots of families ie kids yelling, crying, running around, and maybe 1/3 wearing masks! Not to mention people constantly getting up to get food/drink and then pausing in front of where you are sitting for indefinite periods of time!!Not the peace, quiet and tranquility we were anticipating.
Fortunately, the beautiful music made up for the chaos and lesson learned- skip the Saturday rehearsals!!
The grounds are so magnificent and that particular day was almost like an early fall day in the Berkshires! We stayed behind after the masses left, just to walk around and totally take in the majestic area.

Being our first visit we are glad we went. It was an experience to figure out where to sit so that you have the best view of a screen. LIve and learn. We had a great time. I must say there is so much help available to help you get to where you are going. When the show is done, however, it is dark, and there are few options for guidance. It took us almost an hour to find out car and we were not the only ones.

Tanglewood is a great vacation spot and we found another side trip which you can easily fit in between concerts. It is the Susan B Anthony House and Museum in Adams not very far away. It is filled with wonderful pictures and information about her and not too big to take a great deal of time but well worth the trip. Very inexpensive.

I went to see Alison Krauss and Robert Plant. It was my first time ever going to Tanglewood and it did not disappoint. My friend and I got lawn seats and it was such a fun time coming before the show to hang out and have a picnic. The show was incredible. The prices for lawn seats are inexpensive and the community feel is awesome. Everyone was so friendly and happy and kind. A great concert experience. I can't wait to go to more concerts at Tanglewood in the future.

Lovely grounds, great summer 4th of July vibe but view of James Taylor and his band very poor. More importantly the sound quality was horrible. He had world class talent, albeit in their 70s now, but it all came across as loud, uneven noise. Only quiet solos worked. I left with a headache and no sense of capabilities of stars on stage. James charming as always but should have been more aware of very poor lighting job and overall sound. Felt like high school quality on tech side.

And finding car at night quite the challenge. Almost no lights and NO markers.

For a very large venue, Tanglewood is wonderfully organized in every way from the parking when we arrived through the entire event which concluded with fireworks that went on and on! The grounds are lovely, perfect for picnicking. Following our picnic, we left our chairs and basket against a tree and went into the Shed to find our seats. (Because of the screens which were hung in the Shed, even though our seats were way in the back, we could see everything going on on stage perfectly. ) The concert, Tanglewood on Parage, was outstanding. Our only challenge was finding our picnic equipment. It WAS right where we left it, but we couldn't remember which of the many trees we lft it under. word to the wise: mark which of the many trees you use for 'storing' your belongings so you don't wander around in the dark for 1/2 hour after the concert!

A great place to see/hear a concert. There is seating for 5,000 in the shed and seating for another 20,000 on the lawn . Most ways are fun.

My wife and I, plus another couple went to the James Taylor concert last night (July 3). We will never go back. The packing was terrible and the traffic getting out was horrendous. The walk from the parking lot was uphill 1 mile and I am surprised no one had a heart attach. No shuttles, and leaving was worse. Hundreds of people could not find their car in the pitch black. Very sad. No traffic organization at all, just chaos.

Come here every summer since 1995... no adjectives to describe the Tanglewood experience... Awesome beyond belief.. along with the best orchestra in the world... no tv.. no Starbucks..no nonsense..the way life should be.. here ...it is...

We attended James Taylor concert on the 4th. Experienced the great concert with 20,000 of our closest friends. The lawn was far more packed than we have ever experienced when attending other concerts. Love laying on the lawn listening to sounds of music from the shed. Plenty of large screens outside the shed and now inside for patrons to see the performers up close.

This is a lovely event venue. Nearly 400 acres of rolling lawns and woods in Rhode Berkshire mountains. Superior concerts of all kinds, knowledgeable ushers and helpers, abundant parking and sufficient rest rooms. Even if you have no tickets to a concert, just looking at the grounds will begin g place to your soul.

If the weather’s good, bring some chairs and food and dine while listening to the Boston Symphony. Plenty of parking, lawn affordable. And of course the entertainment is stellar.

... is always very nice on a Sunday afternoon.The cost these days is $22. There are video screens showing the orchestra at sections 15 and 18. We found a shady spot under the tree at section 11 and had a reasonable view of the screen. The other alternative is sit in the sun (lots of experienced folk had umbrellas). One of the pieces on the program was a contemporary piece for trumpet. I guess music directors just want to educate us. To me it was a 30 minute waste of an exceptional orchestra
Did not seem to be a full house in the Shed or on the lawn so maybe others felt the same way.

There are excellent classical music concerts during weekdays at Ozawa Hall, the beautiful concert venue based upon Symphony Hall in Boston, and on weekends in the Shed, featuring the wonderful Boston Symphony Orchestra. These events are world-class. There are also a Popular Artist Series,featuring non-classical performers like James Taylor, and the Boston Pops Orchestra in the Shed. All of these events are performed in halls that are open to the elements on at least one side, so one can pic-nic on the very wide lawns surrounding these halls before a concert, and then listen to the music as well. These pic-nics on the lawn are very popular.

The beautiful and very extensive grounds are open to the public during most of the day. Free guided tours are also available.

A class location.

We were in Tanglewood on the 4th of July for the James Taylor concert, beautiful night for the concert with the finale fireworks. First time in Tanglewood, we went there on a bus hired by our town's recreational department for the concert. Didn't know what to expect but was surprisingly pleased with the site. Crowned but too manageable, we picked a spot on the lawn and totally enjoyed the concert. We brought a picnic basket with us but found their cafe offered good food at a fairly reasonable price! Finally, we were glad that we went there on a bus and didn't have to drive there. Our exist from the parking lot to the interstate took over an hour!
But overall, a good trip and probably to go again for another concert in the future.

Tanglewood is a great place to her good light (and heavy classical music by the Boston Symphony Orchestra and guests. Tanglewood on Parade is a lighter classical 8-hour experience. It starts with some quite good concerts by Boston University summer students (BUTHI). We heard a very interesting one that was all percussion and mixed one in the shed. There were more concerts than we could attend during the afternoon. We then had a picnic supper in the car (it was pouring), but later realized Tanglewood has a covered picnic bench area and quite a few interesting dining options they do not talk about on their website. About 7:15 and alp horn informal concert started followed by fanfares and the main concert at 8 PM. After that, the evening ended with the 1812 overature and fireworks.

Attended July 2 evening concert. There was an appalling lack of concern for public safety. The lack of lighting, maps and any parking signage led to many groups of seniors wandering aimlessly for over 30 minutes looking for a way out of the campus - in the pouring rain. The highlight was when a wild-eyed senior approached us and screamed, “Turn back! The others did!”

Consider the parking lot scene:
- walked though a 1/4 mile open muddy field in the pitch dark with 100’s cars streaming toward you (feet away) on their way out. No pedestrian walk-way!
- ambulance entering the field to find the car in back of field with blinking lights.
- One lone teen “managing” hundreds of cars, swinging a light from side to side.

Oh, there was one map on the campus, but because it was neither lit up nor lacked a “you are here” label, it was useless.

Concert was great.

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We never made it to the concert, though we left two hours early. The traffic was so slow, the speed check roadside sign showed us as 0 mph. We quit after the two hour, two mile drive. They must have sold tickets to everyone who requested one. What a mess.

If you enjoy classical music, do not miss going to tanglewood! You can bring a picnic and eat on the lawn before performances for a reasonable amount of money if you don't want to splurge for seats inside the shed. There are screens so that you can see what's happening on the stage and amazingly the sound is good out there too.

My family and I have visited the Berkshires many times, but this was our first time going to the Tanglewood entertainment venue in Lenox. While sitting in a local restaurant in the Berkshires we were flipping through the show schedule for Tanglewood and discovered Gladys Knight and the Spinners were performing on Aug 28th at 7PM in The Shed. My mother in law who was on this trip is one of Gladys Knight's biggest fans, so we had to go.
I searched online for the official Tanglewood ticketing site to find tickets for 7 people on the lawn. Lawn tickets for the show were just $29. But for some reason I could not book tickets for the lawn online. Since it was a Sunday, I could not call in to book tickets and did not want to wait, so I picked the cheapest seats I could get for inside the Shed which is Section 13 seats L 1 to 7 for $59. Since the performance was in just 3 days, Tanglewood held the tickets at the box office for pick up on arrival. (Later, I was told by the guest service staff at Tanglewood that these were excellent seats. They were in the middle of theater. I found out just how right she was when we got there.)
Through this was twice the cost of the lawn seats this was a good choice for that day. Because there was a steady rain throughout the performance. For the price we got to sit indoors and there was a large TV monitor for viewing the performance directly in front of us. It was difficult to see the performers on the stage, but the monitors made up for it, and we did not need umbrellas or rented chairs. Tickets are not refundable, and performances go on rain or shine.
However on a good day the lawn would have been better choice. When we arrived, we saw people carrying in coolers filled with food and drink, folding lawn chairs and folding tents to set up on the lawn for the performance. Food is allowed on the lawn, but is not allowed for seats in the Shed. All you can bring into the Shed is a bottle of water. And, Tanglewood offers the same large screen TV monitors on the outside of the Shed to watch the performance as they do inside. So, when it is not raining, the viewing experience on the lawn is the same - only at a cheaper price and you can eat.
The performance was fantastic with Glady’s Knight singing her many classic hits and ballads, she does so well. At age 76, she could still dance around the stage. Her much younger backup singers were incredible – so much volume and range. She gave each of them solos to showcase their skills. My mother in law got to buy a Glady’s Knight T shirt as a souvenir. The Spinners were also great, but they were not the originals. They did a great job of singing the Spinners songs but could not match the smooth, choreographed dance moves the originals were famous for.
We had heard that Tanglewood grounds were beautiful and as we entered a staff member gave us directions about where to buy food, the bathrooms and location of a nice lake that was on the grounds. But since it was raining, we did not do a lot of touring. We headed to the Tanglewood Café and Grille featuring the Taste of the Berkshires with dishes from local Berkshire restaurants (Lucia's Latin Kitchen, Mad Jack's BBQ, The Dessert Bar, Nejaime Brothers Mediterranean, SoCo Creamery and a host of local beers). We had already eaten dinner so many of the group bought desserts. They raved about the delicious chocolate cake. I bought a plastic cup of mixed fruit which was tasty and healthy. There were also many gluten free food items sold here. All had to be eaten before we entered the Shed to take our seats. They also offer a Meals to go so you can reserve a meal to dine on a blanket on the lawn.
Tanglewood was easy to find and drive to. The main gate is at the intersection of MA 183 and Under Mountain Road in Lenox. But there are two other entrances East and West of this entrance as you drive by the venue on MA 183. You can arrive up to 3 hours before your performance (4PM for the 7PM performance) and they will have guards directing you from these three entrances onto Tanglewood’s grounds to a parking spot. At the end of the performance MA 183 (which is normally a two-way road) becomes a one-way road in both directions leading all traffic away from Tanglewood.

Earth wind fire concert :my wife and I went to this show on 6/28 and enjoyed 3 songs until the yellow shirts stood in front and the side stage blocking our view, they were asked by us and others to please move in which they smugly refused. As the show continued they were darting about telling people to stop taking photos they also yelled at my wife who took one photo and is 100% disabled American Veteran and when I Intervened to calm this situation I was told (WHAT SHU GON DO OLE MAN) there are moments when being in my mid sixties really stink.
WE did approach other security people who didn't care so we felt it was best to leave paying $260.for 20 minutes of a show.
We wont be back I don't care how nice the grounds are these guys can go to hell.

Visit the web site, see everything you can hear, learn, and do during the summer season, and come soak it all in.

This was the first visit for my wife and I. We had lawn seats and were told to grab a spot in the shade. Unfortunately, the sun shifted by concert time, so it was very hot too. Beautiful grounds and of course the BSO whose performances vary between very good and excellent. Screens and amplification for the lawn crowd. A very communal experience. If you are willing to sit anywhere on the lawn (do bring an umbrella) you can get a seat just before the performance begins. Next visit I think I will try seats inside the shed for a better concert experience. One can still picnic before hand on the lawn, leave your stuff on the lawn, and then go in the shed for the performance.

Saw James Taylor here on July 3 the grounds were beautiful the facilities first rate and the concert was superb

While the Tanglewood opening night concert we attended on June 15 was a fantastic production of the rock opera Tommy, featuring the Boston Pops, Roger Daltrey and a reincarnation of The Who, it is pointless to go on with a music review as neither the Pops nor the Symphony Orchestra repeat their summer season programs. More helpful, especially for folks looking forward to their first visit, is a little advice about planning for and navigating the 210 acres that is the Tanglewood Music Center.

Clearly a picnic/tailgate before the performance is a tradition that should not be eschewed. There is ample food and beverage available for purchase, but concert goers are actually encouraged to bring their own food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages. Bring a blanket, other seating or rent a lawn chair for $5.00 and stake out your turf. The majority of picnickers seem to favor the lawn in front of the Music Shed, where the performances go on, but we chose to avoid the throngs and stay at our car on the grassy lawn East Parking lot, almost directly across from Weber Gate, which is closest to the Shed. Our own planning was not quite perfect as we left wine glasses and napkins back at the hotel, but our parking neighbors from New Hampshire generously shared theirs with us.

By arriving at 5:30 for an 8 p.m. performance we got a parking space just three rows deep. After 6:00, the East lot, like the others, fills up fast and the walk to the Shed becomes longer. Along with your pre-concert meal, bring along dessert and something extra to drink for after the show as it will be some time before you get back out on the main road. While parking is free and easy with plenty of staff guiding cars into place, exiting is a different story when everyone tries to leave at the same time.

As for attending the performances, there is a wide range in ticket prices. A space on the lawn will cost you around $25.00 and an assigned seat in the Music Shed can cost north of $100.00. From a seat on the lawn, subject to the forces of nature (including rain), you can continue to eat and drink, but the stage inside the Shed looks a long way off. However, there are several large outdoor screens and a good sound system to enhance your experience. The views inside the shed should be and are better, but it depends on the section and row. We were seated center left, about a third of the way back and had some difficulty seeing the performers on stage. There is very little slope to the (dirt) floor; not the rising tiers of seats one expects at most music venues. Had we been seated further back, we would have had one of the large screens in our view. The rules state that food and beverage are not allowed inside the Shed, but we saw many folks with bottled water and a few with small coolers at their feet.

As mentioned earlier, Tanglewood sits on 210 acres and during daytime hours one can explore the grounds and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays join a free, one hour walking tour conducted by a volunteer docent, including the Koussevitzky Music Shed, Ozawa Hall and the Visitors Center history rooms. Sunday tours are for ticket holders only.

Whether you choose to picnic or not, dress casual or formal, you will fit right in. Just bring your good manners and spirit of camaraderie with you for that is the essence of the Tanglewood experience.

This was the first time that I had been to Tanglewood in 25 years and it was a terrific time. We attended the "Tanglewood on Parade" day which featured the young musicians (ages 10-20) from a training program centered at Boston University. That was followed by a concert that evening in the main Shed. The weather was problematic, with a wild thunder storm from about 4-5 PM. But the staff went out of their way to make sure that everyone on the property was safe. The young musicians were simply amazing and the evening performance featuring the BSO, The Tanglewood Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops was one of the finest performances of its type that I have ever attended. An experience of a lifetime. I do recommend purchasing ticket for the shed area if you plan to attend. It is worth the additional price.. Hope to return very soon

On a beautiful summer evening we enjoyed the performance of Kelly O'Hara in the Seiji Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood. Ms. O'Hara was an outstanding artist who performed many songs from her Broadway shows as well as other songs that had meaning to her. The acoustics in the hall were excellent and made the performance all the better. We had seats on the side of the hall, which resulted in our turning our head to see her perform.
If a person has mobility issues I do not recommend that they purchase tickets for the second level, in that there is no elevator or escalator to get there.
Tanglewood is a wonderful performance space. The lawns are magnificent and the views are unmatched. There are many parking lots, so one must be aware of where they parked. A very nice touch is that there are trams supplied for people who need assistance to get to their cars
A highlight of any summer is to attend a performance a Tanglewood.

Tanglewood has first rate musical performances during the summer. Ours was Renee Fleming with a four piece string section.A big surprise was Uma Thurman who did a reading and was performing in a play nearby in the coming weeks. Having never been to the Berkshires I was happy in that I enjoyed it enough,and the next night at Jacobs Pillow to seek a way to go back in future summers.

We had a great time at Tanglewood! Decided kind of last minute to go, so would have prepared more in advance. We didn’t have a cooler of drinks or blanket, and you cannot bring alcoholic drinks out of the drinking bar area which I wish I knew. Get there early for good lawn seats. Nonetheless, we did purchase actual seats vs the lawn because we’re on vacation and got a date night. Great up close venue! We really enjoyed the show, cool underneath the Shed concert area. Perfect weather night, too.

What a great summer afternoon of music and celebration. This special afternoon concert featured world renowned cellist Yo Yo Ma, in a concert tribute to the 100th anniversary of famed conductor Leonard Bernstein. And Ma performed the premier debut of a new and complicated piece written by John Williams, entitled Highwood’s Ghost. Of course, Ma performed the piece perfectly. And then Williams appeared on stage to thank Ma and the Boston Symphony Orchestra - really special!The Tanglewood venue and grounds are beautiful, peaceful and relaxing. While the lawn in front of The Shed, where the orchestra is seated, was full of patrons in lawn chairs, the amplified music was crystal clear and the video feed to the large raised monitor at the front of The Shed enabled all of us to clearly see the performers. The grounds are well maintained, rest rooms were plentiful and clean, and coffee/tea/snacks were readily available. It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon with our friends, who live nearby.

What’s not good to say about this place other than parking. Pending when you get there it could be quite a walk with cooler and accessories.
It’s so nice to put a blanket down under the stars with your favorite beverage and snacks. You can bring alcohol beverages. Now just sit back and enjoy the music and the stars. There are some seats in the stadium if that’s what you like.
If your in a hurry to get in and out, just don’t. Slow down and enjoy the time. Hope you have a great time, Cheryl & Rick

Fabulous night despite damp, cool weather. What is not to like about this facility with seating under a roof and lawn space! Everyone has fun!

I saw James Taylor and David Crosby in the last few weeks. The venue is perfect, the atmosphere great and the performances outstanding. In the shed or on the lawn this is a must do in the Berkshires!

Great experience. Lovely setting. Good value. Variety of shows. Bring a picnic. Parking was well staffed and organized. Had no problem getting in or out.

On 7/7/2018, Tanglewood and Boston Pops Presented On the Town;, although not a full scale musical, Conductor Lockhart introduced the scenes and the talented actors and actresses would sing and dance. The ensemble was very good. Featured star was Andrea Martin. She was wonderful, comedic and most entertaining. She never disappoints.
Unfortunately the evening was not perfect. The screen director was asleep at his post, and camera was terrible. Of course we would like to view the musicians perform, but not when the act is on the stage. Multiple times this occurred. The seating arrangement doesnt allow for those in the middle to back of the shed to see from their seats so we must rely on the screens. The seating and sound need a major upgrade. Often individual mics didnt work either. I find if you want to see and hear the performance and not worry about inclement weather or people continually talking and eating during a performance you must sit in the shed. Bathrooms were well kept and no wait. But trying to leave the venue from the maingate area took us over 25 mins wait before we got to the road. One last remark is about the Tanglewood Cafe; overpriced, sandwich contents minimal, bread was with so many holes, it didnt hold the contents, yes I returned for 2 more slices so I could remake the sandwich, and finally had to switch bread due to most slices had gaping holes, and still ended up with a stale sandwich. Lesson learned...eat and drink before you arrive at the venue unless you plan to sit on the lawn.
My rating of a 3 of 5 is the venue and crew.The Artists and the orchestra I would rate as 5 of 5.

There is nothing better than a picnic followed by summer evening concert on the beautiful grounds of Tanglewood.

All summer long great concerts, some family programs as well. Bring a pic-nic and stay under the stars....

The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) did an INCREDIBLE live performance of the entire John William’s Star Wars movie soundtrack “Return of the Jedi” along with the a live full length showing of the movie displayed on multiple large screens at the venue. The audience was so engaged and cheering throughout the movie.
It was so much FUN!!!
Our whole family LOVED it!!!
Thank you to the BSO for an AWESOME summer night!!!

Weather in the protected shed or on the lawn the acoustics are tremendous. Out on the lawn one can picnic and enjoy seeing the orchestra on the big screens. There is not a bad spot anywhere to enjoy the music and beautiful surroundings.

Saturday evening's concert for the centenial of Lenard Bernstein was nothing less than exquisite. The concert covered the full range of his music from classical to Candide and West Side Story. It was a memorable evening in a wonderful setting.

I've been in the Shed and on the lawn and we prefer the lawn seats on a beautiful summer's day. How fantastic to bring a picnic lunch and a newspaper and enjoy the music that fills the air. A most relaxing way to spend the day!

Absolutely magical. Beautiful venue. Scenery is relaxing and picturesque. Wonderful concert. Never a disappointment. Bloody Mary’s at the Manor House, spicy and delicious. Worth the money to get a seat under the shed. Lawn picnic’s cut short due to menacing thunderstorm and downpours, but what a night!

Went to see Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. We had good shed seats but the acoustics were very poor. It was only because I was a fan that I could recognize the songs. We left early after Elvis played more than enough maudlin, slow moving songs in a row. The acoustics seemed better on the lawn than in the shed. Sorry to have missed the encore but the sound was that bad. What a shame.
It was a nightmare to exit and find our car, there are no signs or parking markers, the workers at the main gate (who give out the maps) were unable to direct us to Route 183 where we parked. The security guard pointed us in the correct direction.
Traffic needs to be managed better by the town of Lenox.

Great performance, great sound, comfortable in the “Shed” seats. Highly recommend it for an afternoon of entertainment.

Gorgeous music, beautiful mountains, fresh Berkshire air, friendly, helpful people, what could be better?

We watched ET on screen for its 35th anniversary and listened to the orchestra play live in sync with the movie. It really emphasized the importance of the musical track in developing the emotions for the movie.

The event is so easy for families. Bring your lawn chairs, coolers, blankets and set up on the grass for dinner before the show starts and have dessert during the intermission.

Nice area with good sound wherever you sit. Parking can be a walk though so bring a way to carry chairs etc.

The last time we were here, it was July and free tours were offered. I believe that they still offer free tours in July and August. Other times of the year they let you tour the grounds on your own for free from 9: A.M. to 4:P.M as long as there isn't a concert.

Today on our way to the Norman Rockwell Museum, we stopped and spent an hour walking around the "Tent" and the beautiful grounds. The visiting center, which was the former home of the owners of the estate, was open. The owners donated it and many acres of land to the Boston Symphony back in 1937. The house has reading displays.

I love that you can come as you are or dress to the hilt for Tanglewood, bring a picnic basket and some chairs or even a love seat as some have done. it's fun to plan as the arrangements on the lawn can be quite extraordinary from candleobras on a table with lit candles, to a simple blanket with a favorite wine. this is a true cultural experience and listening to the great music that is offered time and time again must be experienced.

James Taylor at tanglewood was the most amazing place to hear him. The area is beautiful and spacious. Tickets in the shed are reasonable, and the lawn seats are just as good. His voice could be heard for miles, no matter where you sat. Everyone enjoyed a picnic dinner,with beverages of their choice . After the concert,security got us out in a timely,well organized way. We will return

We went on June 24th for the Audra McDonnell concert which was great...a wonderful voice and entertainer. The stage is fronted by the "shed" for covered seating, and the lawn behind it is where one can bring their own chairs, blankets and picnics. Picnics are also available for purchase. The Lenox area has a variety of lodgings and small restaurants...did not see any chains (nice). We stayed for the weekend and enjoyed the countryside as well as the nearby Norman Rockwell Museum.

Seeing Diana Ross a few nights ago was well worth the 4 hour trip to Tanglewood. This was our second time at this venue and we have now decided to make this an annual visit. For Diana Ross we had "shed" seats . For the Boston Symphony last year we had lawn seats. Love them both . On the lawn you can bring blankets, chairs, coolers,etc. and sit on the lawn for the performance. What a lovely evening. We decided to get shed seats for Diana Ross so we could be closer. We found out that beverages and food are not allowed in the shed. Not a problem, we sat at a picnic table and had our wine before the show. Next time we will probably do a combination of both . Sit on the lawn with our cooler until right before the show then move to shed seats The best of both worlds.

We haven't been here in almost 30 years and it was as lovely as ever. We sat on the lawn and were still impressed with the elaborate dinners. wonderful Symphony. And best of all the exit was smooth and quick

As tourists from Australia we were totally unprepared for what we would find when we visited Tanglewood - not for a concert but just to have a look round. On a warm day the glorious green lawns and magnificent trees were so beautiful. We were lucky enough to be able to hear the orchestra practicing in the shed. A rather inglorious name for a structure that emits such wonderful music! Would love to come back one day for a concert!

Love this venue!!! We go to so many concerts and this was our first year at Tanglewood and saw three concerts this summer. Our only complaint is that we were told we couldn’t take photos or videos. The artist then stopped the show and said... “We see many of our fans being approached and told not to take photos/videos. We want you to know... take as many as you would like... and share them!!” I am a big fan of taking photos and videos... it helps to keep memories! I was very disappointed, Tanglewood. Please look at your policy and consider revising it. Many of the attendees love taking home the memories and may consider other venues for this reason. Otherwise, we loved the grounds, the seats indoors, the lawn seats, ability to bring our own food/drinks to enjoy on lawn, and the pleasant staff (other than those telling us to put our phones/cameras away). I give you four stars for this reason only.

Have been going to tanglewood on parade day for the last 5-6 years. Sitting on lawn with friends. Brought cheese crackers and wine. Also brought dinner for all 7 of us. The
Music was TERRIFIC. Under a cool evening with best friends. 1812 overture was final piece with real canons. Fireworks after music just made evening better. Will be back again next year.

Came to the Saturday morning talk and rehearsal for the Boston Symphony on opening day of the Tanglewood season. It was a joyful experience of rebirth. There was no 2020 season due to the pandemic.

The talk introduced an American composer in residence from the Kennedy Center , Carlos Simon. Mr Simon is a fabulously talented young composer One of his works, Fate Now Conquers, was the opening of the wonderful concert that followed the talk by Mr. Simon and Robert Kirzinger, Director of Program Publications for the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The talk was excellent.

The concert included Me. Simon’s work, a violin concerto by Sibelius, and a Symphony by Devorak. We splurged and sat in a box in the Shed (the covered music venue. Tanglewood is known for its lawn where hundreds sat blissfully on this perfect summer morning.

We had never been to Tanglewood despite living for many years in Mass. Lots of Symphony Hall but not Tanglewood. The place is pretty remarkable. Think Disney except for culture, not carnivals. First, they have a ton of close parking. The restrooms outside the entrance are meager (at least for men) but inside the park are huge in number. The grounds are immaculate, with lots of staff everywhere. People of all ages, from 1 year to it looks like 100 years and it all worked, though the demographic is skewed definitely to the older group. Things started on time. We were under the "shed" which must hold like 2,000 people. The seats were substantially larger than today's movie-theater experience or ballpark. Of course the music was splendid but I'm not reviewing that because it changes daily. The scenery is marvelous. Just overall very well done.

A must see while in Berkshires! Amazing house, beautiful grounds, and interesting educational experience learning about Edith Wharton. Tour guides were informative and engaging!

We visited Tanglewood to listen to Boston Symphony Orchestra. The place is well maintained and has plenty of shade when visiting on a sunny and warm day. On the day on 6th June there were a lot of visitors but the grounds when kept clean. During the day there was an opportunity to participate in the open air yoga session in the grounds with breath taking view of the valley and the lake at the bottom.

We got tickets online in February for this concert. We arrived in the area on July 1st.James Taylor sang from 8 to 11pm with a 20 minute break. His voice is strong; his instrumentals fantastic, and his guitar and harmonic playing as good as his records. Over 13000 people had lawn tickets and 2700 sat in the "Shed". When he started the second half singing "America the Beautiful ", 15000 people stood and sang...a Wow moment👍

Tanglewood is the summer home of the Boston Symphony and much more. Although the “shed” is huge, acoustics are good and sight lines are remarkably decent for such a large, flat space.

Since classical music has declined in popularity, tickets are easier to obtain than they used to be. The exquisite music and the outdoor beauty of Tanglewood remain unchanged.

Traveled here with friends to see Leonard Bernstein remembrance where they showed West Side Story and the orchestra played the full score! How memorable. Fantastic in every way. The music, the visual of West Side Story, the scenery, the vistas! It has it all

Beautiful venue overlooking Berkshire Montains. Comfortable seating in "the Shed". Lots of lawn seating and lawn parties. Saw Josh Groban and James Taylor. Fabulous concerts. Food a bit pricey but..lots of traffic, well controlled

All seats are great for listening including lawn seating. Great acoustics. Make a day of it with a picnic to go along with the music.

A reviewer from 2017 complained about Ozawa Hall being uncomfortable in the heat - this was my fear as well as I had tickets for a performance that I knew would be in the middle of an extreme heat wave. FOUR lengthy phone calls to every number and department I could find at both BSO and including a Supervisor in Customer Service at Tanglewood, failed to either know the answer to "Is Ozawa Hall air conditioned?" or flat out gave me the wrong answer "No, it's not air conditioned". When I arrived and the usher opened the door for me and a beautiful blast of cool air hit me I knew the staff was ill-informed and ill-trained. Ozawa Hall is beautiful and a lovely place to hear music, but the summer staff needs to have the correct information concerning their own venue.

This is a beautiful setting for an outdoor summer concert. We went on a Sunday afternoon and had a tour of the grounds before the production. It was very informative. The concert was very professional. I will return.

On most of our recent visits to Tanglewood we have enjoyed lawn tickets for the concerts. However, we booked a box under the shed for our most recent visit with our friends.

A nice change and better sound than on the lawn.

All good, no matter where you take in the music.

We attended a Boston Symphony Orchestra concert at Tanglewood on a Saturday evening. The concert started with a performance by the Boston Ballet followed by the BSO Bernstein performance. Total length of the show was almost 2 hours. There is plenty of parking in grass and dirt lots, if it is a rainy day, it can be slightly messy walking. Inside there are plenty of food and drink options, remember there is no alcohol allowed in the seating area of the concert venue. The seating inside the venue can be uncomfortable, you may want to consider bringing or renting a cushion. There are video monitors located in the center of the venue that plays the concert video. When the show is over, the staff does a great job with traffic control, route 183 becomes a two lane road into Lenox to increase traffic flow. Great place to see a show.

There is no place in the Capital District NY area to see a concert that even comes close to Tanglewood. The grounds are gorgeous, ticket prices reasonable and this year they have opened several take out style fast food eateries, as well as a craft beer tent and two tents where you can sit and have a glass of wine while enjoying food from one of the onsite restaurants. Tonite we tried the salad bar in the cafe. It was fresh and had quite a few choices. They also serve local craft beer which was delicious. This season we attended Film Nite with the Boston Pops and a concert with Melissa Ethridge and Pat Benetar. Interestingly, film nite was a mob scene while the concert had far fewer people. I enjoyed eating at the onsite restaurants much better than lugging wagons full of food and supplies, so will probably take advantage of the restaurants from here on. This is a great place for a fun nite out.

This is one of the top outdoor concert venues in the country. Nestled in the Berkshire, it is surrounded by beautiful scenery. The Koussevitzky Music Shed has seating near the stage, and huge lawn areas for folks to sit and listen. Most people bring their lawn chairs and set up picnic spaces on the lawns and have enjoyable social time.
This is the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Summer home, so there are lots of classical music events in this amazing venue.
There are other venues such as the Seiji Ozawa Hall, a theatre and a chamber music hall.
The only thing that is lacking here, is that most of the people on the lawn cannot see the stage, unlike many similar venues around the country.

Fabulous. Amazing. Love that Tanglewood is having more popular and pop artists woven into the summer home of the BSO. Fabulous !

My wife and I went up to see Graham Nash and Emmy-Lou Harris in concert at the Koussevitsky Music Shed on the Tanglewood grounds. It's a beautiful place, summer home of the Boston Symphony and host to many different concerts - classical, rock, etc. The Shed has a roof but is open on three sides and the weather was incredibly hot and humid, about 90 degrees when the concert began. Parking was not difficult, with local cops and Tanglewood staff directly and assisting.

Graham Nash is 83 and had recently broken his kneecap in a fall. He came out in a big leg brace with a cane to help him walk. Despite that, he rocked for about 90 minutes with a fabulous band of younger musicians. His voice isn't quite what it used to be (did I mention he's 83?) but it was a great show. After a short intermission, Emmy-Lou Harris came on and we were disappointed. We couldn't hear her clearly when she spoke and her music just didn't sound right. Maybe the sound system wasn't adjusted correctly for her, although Graham Nash sounded great. We left before she finished her set.

Buy lawn tickets and ask your hotel to pack a dinner for you. Listening to the orchestra play as you have a beautiful outdoor picnic cannot be beat

Husband and I went to a Sunday afternoon concert of the BSO, and we finally understand what the big deal is about Tanglewood. The grounds are beautiful, the crowds are mellow and friendly, and the music is lovely - what more could you ask from a beautiful summer day? We got there about 2 hours before the concert to pick our lawn seat and explore the grounds. Parking was easy-in, easy-out, and wow, they really have that down to a science. We had a small blanket to sit on, but opted to rent lawn chairs for $7 each. We had a nice, light lunch at the cafe, but next time, we'll definitely bring a picnic. It's amazing to see the picnic gear people set up there - I saw one picnic with a table, cloth, china, and crystalware - people really go the extra mile to spend the afternoon in comfort. The crowds are friendly, and the music was divine. We will definitely do this again.

We’re on a tour across the country of symphony summer outdoor venues. The price for lawn seating was slightly more than Ravinia (Chicago Symphony) and Blossom (The Cleveland Symphony) and slightly less than Vail Bravo Festival (The Dallas Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, and The New York Philharmonic). Vail has the best restrooms. Chicago provides shuttles to outlying areas and they’re timely. That makes the outgoing traffic problem a non-problem. Tanglewood had the worst problem getting out of the lot. With no attendants in sight, I saw some really aggressive bullying. Certainly, there can be a more civilized way! We were there three nights in a row and it was so bad, we left early on the third. This is also the park that had the biggest mosquito problem. I thought the sound quality was best at Tanglewood.

My wife and i went over to see Star Wars"A New Hope" Movie wuth the Boston Pop playing the music to it.It was very goodto see this movie and hear the music from it.The whole area is great alot of indoor seating and lawn seating and they have several places to eat and tour the place also! The scenery is great !!Poeple can bring the whole family.

We were fortunate enough to discover Tanglewood, while seeing Pete Townshend's Quadrophenia Show with the BSO!! Amazing show & wonderful venue! Pretty landscape/property & 'nice' feeling venue. Will be repeat visitors!

Enjoyed a variety of music by the Boston Symphony Orchestra or Boston Pops, plus many other talented musicians like James Taylor.

So much to love about Tanglewood, including the great acts that perform there, tradition of the lawn-nation, the great seats in the shed, etc. But oh the parking. And oh the darkness after the shows and the lack of signage to get you back to your car! We went 2 nights close together and by the second night had a pretty good lay of the land, but the first night we wandered in pouring rain trying to find the right gate to exit. Literally dampened our experience- but feel like pros now.

had tickets for John Williams and car line was so long and Not well managed we never got into concert. Parking lot had several hundred cars and one young man directing traffic

Great! We have enjoyed this for many years. Wehear some of the best music and many of the top performers.

I did not what to expect. It is an ok concert area, however I would suggest they keep it open the rest of the year for other type of music. That would be amazing!

Came to see James Taylor for the third time at Tanglewood. Packed house of 18,000. They do an amazing job of organizing entry and exit from the many parking lots. The show was great as was the atmosphere. One of the few venues where you can bring your chairs, coolers and refreshments with no hassle. A great way to spend a summer evening.

We've seen the BSO here, the Black Eagle Jazz Band, and most recently Steve Martin and Martin Short. Especially love getting box seats in the shed, as they rock, and sit on dirt and even had legroom for my 6'8" brother-in-law. The free parking is made effortless. We advance-ordered a lunch from the meals-to-go restaurant (inside the main gate, turn right) and made a picnic of it. What a delight. The grounds are stunning.

We attended Pat Benatar in The Shed. As out of state visitors we were not exactly sure what to expect. The free parking was efficient, staff very friendly, ample bathrooms etc. Acoustics were awesome. We liked having assigned seats but no beverages allowed inside so people on the lawn had more fun! If we return, i would buy lawn seating.

Outdoor, summer concert venues do not come any better. This is the premier venue for classical music whether you splurge for serious listenining under the "Shed" or preferred a more relaxed setting on the grass.

Having missed this production when it was in Boston, we were pleasantly surprised to learn of the reprise at Tanglewood. We were near the front of the line when the gates opened at 5:30 and set up “camp” on the lawn. We enjoyed our picnic dinner and games before the 8:00 pm start - Tanglewood is the perfect venue for under-the-stars entertainment (in this case, the BSO performing the soundtrack while “West Side Story” was shown!). Parking is free, our adult lawn seating was $21 per and the kids entrance was free. The facilities were clean and conveniently located - our first trip to Tanglewood was a huge success and we’re looking forward to return visits.

Everyone should experience Tanglewood in the Summer. BSO is wonderful to hear here. Lots to see in do in the area.

Along with the Rockwell museum just down the road and our many theater groups and Jacob’s Pillow is the first among equals - Tanglewood. The music is sweeter and the aromas better here. A picnic on the lawn and then good music attracting the best musicians and groups. Cannot be better. This is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and one of the places to go during the summer. The shed for orchestra and other large format performances, but do not miss the smaller gem of acoustics and architecture- Ozawa Hall. This is the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth, so come help us celebrate here at Tanglewood where he conducted so many treats!! A performance and tour here are musts for the complete visit to the Berkshires

Thank you so much for the invaluable insights posted on this page. In appreciation, here are two clarifications for other first-timers: 1. Though the gates to the lawn, shed and shops open at 5 pm, parking is available much earlier. We arrived at 12:15, then carted our wheelie, chairs, umbrella, etc. to a shady spot near the Main Gate, next to two large groups who had arrived even earlier. Bathrooms and ice cream carts available. Lovely, until...2. At 4pm a police officer asked if we were in line or just waiting. What?!! we weren't on line? Yikes. He sternly advised us to get in line...the serpentine line,already a mile long, that began about a block away under the trees but quickly extended onto an uncovered lawn. Off I went with a book and an umbrella. Blazing sun. My pal, hauling all our gear, merged seamlessly as I approached the gate. Of course, when James Taylor appears, all frustrations cease. Great evening.

Superb music by the BSO and soloists. T'wood is so beautifully maintained and managed, it's always a pleasure to go there. Just getting so many cars parked and then moved out is a feat of genius. The police do a great job keeping the traffic moving. They actually have plenty of toilets for the ladies room, so you don't spend your entire intermission in line. Quite a range of people visit, but the crowd is overwhelmingly white. Makes me sad and puzzled.

My wife & I fulfilled a bucket list for her by attending James Taylor concert on the 4th. Tanglewood is a beautiful experience with dinner on the lawn for many. The parking is well guided and efficient as well as the cafe's filled with decent selections. The concert was special as well as the artists who played with James.
The fireworks after the concert was memorable
We also visited Edith Wharton House called "The Mount" and Norman Rockwell Museum.
The Berkshires are beautilful

Was a short easy drive from Albany. Enjoyed Andy Grammar which was our first time at Tanglewood. Had no problem parking. Bought inside tickets upon arrival. Friendly staff, very clean and picturesque. Looking forward to future shows on the lawn!

As Brits, we found the whole picnic and music vibe of the James Taylor July 4th concert quite wonderful.

Sold out Saturday night performance and crowd was handled perfectly. We parked in the farthest part possible but got out in record time. Good weather definitely played a huge factor.
The performance was mostly wonderful. Audra McDonald was a great host and the video vignettes about Bernstein offered nice insight into him.
I didn’t care much for two of the non-Bernstein pieces but loved Candide and west side story and the Copeland piece.
It was a 3 hour Bernstein festival and worth every penny.
Outdoor eating at their cafe offers standard fare: pizza, burgers, salad bar, sandwiches and some grill items. If you’re late you can eat and still hear the concert.

What a beautiful venue for a Wynton Marsalis concert! Perfect evening for enjoying music outdoors in the Berkshires. Get there early, have dinner in one of the restaurants there or bring your own, and walk the premises. So much natural beauty to enjoy!

While planning a week in the Berkshires My wife suggested we see James Taylor at Tanglewood on July 4th. Having never been, we bought tickets through an authorized reseller.
Friengs that frequent Tanglewood suggested we go early have a picnic on the lawn , return the picnic basket to the car (no problem reentering)and get seats inside the shed.
Both of us are retired and my friend suggested though we could just have lawn seats, he did tell us that weather can be a factor and the concert is rain or shine.
We brought a feast of cheese, fuit, wine, fried chicken and potato salad. There are tons of people here and everyone had their own version of picnic, from elaborate to just the basics.
Dropped the basket at yhe car and returned to our seats in the shed which is a three sided open venue. James Taylor was awesome and there were fire works after but we took the option of leaving at the end of the show to avoid traffic.
I got on line and found the back roads to and from the concert and had no traffic issues from the Lions Gate entrance.
Would highly recommend if you have never been!

My husband and I went to the James Taylor gathering this summer. WOW! We had never been to Tanglewood before and live only 45 minutes away. This will be a place we go to much more often now that we know about it! Already arranging to bring family to a variety of events there next year. This is a hidden goldmine we are so glad to have found!

We were all standing in a very hot, long line, moving slowly along. To be expected and that was okay. All of a sudden the girl running the parking lot, yells okay everybody move up and get in the gates - suddenly the end of the line was at the beginning, everyone was on top of everyone else, a poor woman fell down, people just walked over her, and besides being 100 degrees, it was ridiculous. Once we got in, it was great but that was unnecessary. What a mess.

Awesome night .. three great bands.
Started off with Allen Stone ( entertaining)
Met the terrific keyboard player Steve Swatkins! .... check his music out on YouTube. Then enter the Goo Goo Dolls.

Finally... Train.... great show!!
Food... food.. more food.. wine and beer
And amazing friends makes Tanglewood
A night to remember.

Well Tanglewood as a venue is great. We saw Van Morrison and I have to say it was disappointing. Played for about an hour and a half. Very few of his signature songs with no personal touch with the audience. At the end he just left …. Leaving the band to play another twenty minutes without him. Maybe I expect too much from a 77 year old musician.

We live over 2 hours away in CT but try to get here twice each summer. The setting is the star of the show - and the live music is varied and always top notch.

This was the 2nd time we came to see James Taylor at Tanglewood on July 4th. He still sounds as good as the albums.

This time, we sat in the lawn. It was a great sound system, and we met all the nice people around us. The bathrooms were clean and convenient. And the fireworks were great to sit in a comfortable chair and watch. The screens were big to watch the stage. All in all, a great night.

Suggestions to my followersa:

If you sit in the lawn, bring a mosquito repellent candle to light. Try to sit towards the middle of the lawn, so you can still see the stage if you look. If, for some reason, you forget your tickets, the box office can verify who you are, and reprint them.

Bring comfortable chairs, but they rent them if you don't want to carry the chairs in. Some people brought battery powered lights for others to find them in the crowd. Have a flashlight handy for when you leave. BE PATIENT GETTING OUT!

A beautiful setting for outdoor performances....lovely grounds and interesting buildings. You can stroll through the gardens and admire the outstanding landscaping and views.

Tanglewood: The summer home of Boston Symphony. Any trip to the Berkshires should include a concert at Tanglewood. Many famous conductors and artists perform there and James Taylor is always there for one of the concerts. Great experience!

It appears you have to be "in the know" to have a pleasant experience at Tanglewood. Being first time visitors, my husband and I were not aware of special parking lot permits to access desirable spots. We were parked at the bottom of a very steep hill. We lugged chairs and cooler straight up the hill, exhausting!

The town of Lenox has a unique traffic pattern involving two stop signs very close together. There was a traffic snarl for well over an hour after the concert, even with officers directing traffic, followed by a long detour back to out hotel.

I don’t know where to start. From parking, security, services. I will never go back. We paid 150 a seat and it was disgusting. So right and uncomfortable. Not to mention a man in front of us passed out, not sure of heart attack or diabetic, everyone around us was screaming for emts or security. All the staff was rude and not helpful at all. I tried to get the man a gaterade while waiting more than 15 minutes for someone to assist and was told we can’t bring drink in the theater, so I guess beat to let the man die? A security guy showed up and someone the called an t and made the man walk all the way out to the aisle as he collapsed 2 times, catching himself on chairs. The sound inside was so loud you could hear a word. It was dark getting to seats and no lighting to find it without your phone. If you have health issue don’t try to park there are no shuttles or security in the parking lots and they are very far and up hill. We had to leave our seats so we stand outside and we were told to move NEVER AGAIN, I don’t care who comes back from the dead to play there. Dirt floors in the theater. Maybe they should tell people to wear hiking boots.

Wow. We lucked out - a massive rain storm announced our arrival and washed away the humidity. We experienced idyllic weather which made the place spectacular. Over Saturday and Sunday, we listened to two amazing Boston Symphony Orchestra performances at “Shed” - one included a U.S. premier of a commissioned double concerto and the other included the audience standing until the soloist acquiesced to perform an encore. In between, we listened to a morning chamber music concert of several of the Tanglewood Music Center Fellows in a spectacular Ozawa Hall (photo attached of the view the musicians look out on as they play). Then we had a picnic on a clean picnic table and went for a walk.

This place is a summer Mecca for classical music - there are the powerhouse stars coming and they seem to love the institution as much as the fans who come every year. Some of them bring their own picnic furniture and decorate them with bouquets and fancy stuff.

I only wish they were more successful bringing more young people - the majority of the demographic are silver haired - and people of color.

We attend a concert at Tanglewood on each annual trip to the Berkshires. Not only is the concert off the charts, but the facility is wonderful. I have a handicap and the staff directs us to special parking and then arranges for a wheelchair to get me to our seats. This year we had a fabulous young man who lives in the area. He took us in and recommended a place to eat. He picked me up and took us to our seats, Then he returned and took us back to the car. It makes the trip so enjoyable and worthwhile. We cannot say enough about the BSO and how they run this facility.

We were there for Tanglewood on Parade. The programs by the students were fabulous and aspiring. The evening performance of the Boston Philharmonic were amazing with John Williams, the 1812 Overtire with cannons. Followed by fireworks.

We saw two shows one night after the other. First night on the lawn, second night with ticketed seats. Both were good. We would happily return.

This was by far the worst concert I have attended. It was my first trip to Tanglewood and I had always heard what a beautiful venue. Well where do I start. Parking a nightmare, no warning that you would have to be a hiker to get to the gate. No shuttles, nothing for handicap individuals, no security, no markers for people to remember where the parked. Completely disorganized. Woman at lions gate entrance was lovely, and efficient. Now getting to our seats was another mess. Because it took us so long to get in the first act was performing and light were out. Oh and when 20$ lawn seats are better than 149. Inside seats that is a problem. We got to our seats and they were so squashed together it was ridiculous. There was no screen for us. The acoustics were horrible and the sound was so loud you couldn’t hear any of the words. Now for the worst of it. A MAN front of us, passed out, not sure heart attack, diabetic or what, his wife frantically trying to get someone to help, begging someone for gaterade. Many of us around them
Trying to summon ushers or whoever to get emts, they were oblivious and didn’t know how to handle a crisis 10 to 15 minutes after a security guy came. I tried to get the man a gaterade and was told I can’t bring it inside. Really the man could be dying. FINALLY a possible emts arrives and the make the man stumbling out the aisle to walk. He almost collapsed twice. Inexcusable. We could no longer stand being squashed in our seats and the blaring, we went to walk outside the pavilion and were told we couldn’t stAnd. We moved to the back with our indoor tickets and tried to stand and were addressed again. We thankfully left then to start our trek to our car, not one attendant in the parking lot. Thankfully we got out before the crowd, because there was no one in the back controlling the crowd. Only at the top to make sure we exited in one direction which caused another traffic jam. Never again will I attend your venue and will spread the word. Oh and dirt floors inside, ridiculous. Maybe your website should tell customers to wear hiking boots. I can not believe what a horrible experience.
Maria Musto

Sent from my

My wife and I traveled from Toronto to Lenox, MA in early August to attend two concerts at Tanglewood. We arrived a day early and used the time to walk around the grounds (magnificent) and get the lay of the land. The volunteers and staff could not have been nicer. I encourage you to do this. There is so much history and the Tappan House Museum is a must see.

We were staying in Lenox and determined that if we drove the mile to the venue we would probably spend well over an hour getting in and another hour getting out, Remember that for popular concerts there can be more than 10,000 people in attendance. We walked and it was great. HOWEVER be aware that the walk from Lenox to Tanglewood is downhill and takes about 35 to 40 minutes at a nice leisurely pace. The walk back to Lenox is uphill all the way but if you take your time it is not a problem...and in many instances you are moving fast than traffic!

We got seats in the Shed. Buy or rent a cushion, as the seats are hard on the back. The sound is very good and both concerts were memorable. We are going back!

I've been attending concerts here since the 1950s and I keep coming back every summer. Check out YouTube for many pictures of Tanglewood-- all aspects. Usually, there's a Friday night concert, Saturday morning rehearsal (my favorite) and Sunday afternoon concerts-(for children, too). This is a beautiful area of Western Mass.

What can anyone who likes music say. We have been coming here for 50 years. This is a fabulous, must see concert and picnic venue. While you can sit in the shed, we always try to sit on the lawn. Most times there is plenty of space, unless John Williams or another personality is playing.
If the weather is “iffy,” we recommend buying the cheapest seats in the shed for $4 or $5 dollars more than the lawn as insurance. If it rains, you can sit inside. Otherwise, if no seats are available, you can arrive early and throw a jacket on the last row which is free. This saved us one day when it started to rain during the concert. Bring your own wine and dinner or lunch, although there is a good selection of takeout food in their Cafe.
And bring the kids with a good game or Book for them to keep them busy. They’ll enjoy the music also. You will never regret coming here.

Seeing a show at Tanglewood should be on everyone's bucket list. To see a show here is to hear and experience music in a perfect setting. The grounds are wonderful, the staff patient and understanding.

Being inside the the halls is a better experience, but just being at Tanglewood is a great experience.

Look at the schedule, pick a concert and go! You won't regret it...

We toured the grounds of Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with a very knowledgeable guide who gave us a history of the venue. We heard the rehearsal for an upcoming concert and saw the master classes for high school and college music students on site. That evening we attended an all-Mozart performance with four concertos, three for violin and one for piano. The concert was held in the Ozawa Hall with perfect acoustics.

The place is legendary, with time-honored rituals of dinner on the lawn brought by red wagons and other sophisticated non-powered vehicles. Wine and cheese, candlelight, take-out from Guido’s, all ages—quite the happening.
We sat in The Shed, Open sides, rows of seats, hot and humid as a July 3rd evening knows to be.
I grew up at Meadowbrook outside Detroit at Oakland University, lying on the grassy slope under the stars. Tanglewood is the inspiration, and a wonderful one at that.
James Taylor brought back memories of young adulthood, adding newer material as well with a fantastic band. It’s worth the experience, at least once, for those out of towners who get the opportunity to visit the Berkshires with its charming surrounding towns.

Great music and SO many laughs with Steve Miller Band, Bruce Hornsby and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Gorgeous setting.

We have been to 3 concerts at Tanglewood: Josh Groban; John Legend; and this past Friday night we had an amazing experience seeing Jon Batiste.

I love the more casual, relaxed atmosphere the Tanglewood brings. It has a more intimate feel than a huge arena or stadium. The cost of tickets is another factor that draws us in. Tanglewood has become a of tradition for my husband and I. I look forward to many more concerts.

The staff and local law enforcement ran the event without a hitch. We sat on the lawn brought food beverages and had a wonderful time. The music was exceptionally well done and just a great time was had by all.

My happy place. BSO and TMC rock the classical world. BUTI shows us that the future of music is safe

We recently attended the Earth Wind and Fire concert. A beautiful weather night and a great event. We arrived at 4 pm and got a great parking spot. The gates opened and we walked in to find a lovely spot under one of the many outstanding huge trees on the massively expansive grounds. Set up our sight and enjoyed visiting with our friends. People come with carts, wagons, blankets, tables, dinner and beverages. All is up to you. Lots of peoples lit candles and had luminaries for post show to enjoy the beautiful evening while the traffic departed. The venue is delightful! Go, enjoy the music and relax.

We went to a Saturday morning rehearsal with our two-year-old because tickets were less expensive. We had hoped to spread out on the lawn, but it rained. Since the place wasn’t full, we were allowed into the “shed” where the seating is and enjoyed the concert. It was definitely a rehearsal, with the music stopping here and there for the conductor to coach the orchestra, but it was still beautiful music and interesting to see how it all comes together. The grounds are amazing. If you bring kids into the shed, be prepared that they will ask you to keep them quiet (understandably so).

Tanglewood continues to be simply lovely for a summer concert. For $25 you can sit on the wonderful lawn and listen to great music. The staff is great - parking is well-organized, facilities are clean, several options for lunch/dinner if you don't want to bring a cooler. Tickets for shed seats are more, and insure staying dry when the ocassional summer storm comes through. Lawn guests can put up umbrellas (max height 6 ft). A special place!

We are passionate about Beethoven's 9th Symphony and try to experience it in different cities and symphonies each summer. This year we landed at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA - what a super treat. It was a spectacularly beautiful day - sunny, slight breeze, bright blue sky - really picturesque. The Boston Symphony Orchestra and chorus did not disappoint - it was absolutely magnificent - and a super treat for us Nashvillians was that our own Nashville Symphony Conductor, Giancarlo Guerrero, was the guest conductor! He did us (and himself!) proud - he was fabulous! We arrived about 1:00 for the 2:30 concert - had no trouble parking, finding our way in and getting the lay of the land. We ate in their cafe (perfectly acceptable sandwiches) and soaked in the music once it started. The property is beautiful and invited an easy stroll around. Bathrooms were clean, plentiful and easy to access. And the volunteer ushers were super friendly and shared great stories and history about Tanglewood for us. A fabulous afternoon!

The grounds at Tanglewood are a complete delight, as is Ozawa Hall. But the rest of our experience there left a lot to be desired.

We arrived at the main Music Shed on Saturday morning, July 19, for what was supposed to have been a dress rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). But what we saw on stage when we arrived amounted to a student orchestra. It is called the "Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra" and consists of players who have graduated from college and are either attending a postgraduate program or are beginning their first jobs. NOT the BSO.

When my wife and I bought our tickets the website clearly indicated that the orchestra we would be hearing at the dress rehearsal was the BSO. Our tickets had "Boston Symphony Orchestra" printed in bold letters across the top. What did we actually experience? A rank bait-and-switch, which strikes me as highly arrogant and unethical on the part of both the BSO and Tanglewood.

It was true that the orchestra we saw was conducted by Andris Nelsons, the BSO music director. But he turned out to be as dreadful as the reviews I had read about him said he would be. He is very simpleminded and basically attempts to make every moment of the music as dramatic as possible by overconducting. Again and again he made me wince as he undermined a very beautiful piece of music. The Music Center Orchestra does have some talented young musicians in it; in fact a friend of mine who is a professional musician later assured me that it is currently a better orchestra than the BSO itself, which has deteriorated badly over the years thanks to its recurrent poor leadership.

The Music Shed itself does not exactly convey a feeling of warmth and the sound is mediocre thanks to the electric amplification.
Tanglewood itself is beautiful but the Music Shed looks, well, like a country shed. Ozawa Hall is much nicer in every way.

In short, our experience at Tanglewood fell well below my expectations. I do think the bait-and-switch of the two orchestras is enough by itself to drop the rating to two stars. My recommendation would be to go to Tanglewood ONLY when you know in advance you will not be hearing the BSO (there are other quality ensembles that play there during the course of the summer) and when you can be confident that Nelsons will not be on the podium.

I have been going to Tanglewood for 60 years and it always takes my breath away. It is so beautiful set atop the mountain. The music is always excellent. There are plentiful bathrooms and good food on the premises as well.

Fantastic to see a show. Can bring drinks food and coolers right to the gate. Very nice grounds. Easy in and easy out.

Went to a Earth Wind and Fire concert, the concert was GREAT but Tanglewood itself was an outstanding venue. Plan on going back a few more time this summer.

Tanglewood has first rate musical performances throughout the summer season. The BSO performs, the Tanglewood Symphony, composed of very talented students from all over the world, perform, and special guests, like James Taylor and Yo Yo Ma, perform.
The prices are, in a word, dirt cheap. Lawn seating is available and, if watching the musicians doesn't matter, is easy and fun. Bring your own chairs for that. The food tends to be a bit pricy, as at all events, but it's good. Easy access, ample parking - but make sure you remember where you parked!
A great occasion for persons of all ages. If you bring your young children, be considerate of others and don't let them run around like wild animals!
The views are spectacular! Bring your camera. Have fun!

Tanglewood. The summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Tanglewood Festival Chorus (300 strong!), and a host of music schools. It doesn't get any better than this. You can dress formally, or casually. Both are OK. You can bring a picnic (formal or informal) and eat on the spacious, emerald-green/weed free, lawn before the concert. And then, if you can spring for tickets inside the shed, go inside the Shed for the concert. Or, stay on the lawn! The huge screens facing the lawn provide closeups of the musicians - even better than those one can see from inside - and the sound system is great throughout the grounds.

You probably want to get there early so that you have time to tour the grounds. Much to see and appreciate.

You might feel daunted by the many large parking lots filled with cars. You might fear that you'll be sitting in traffic for an hour after the concert. Never fear! Those incredibly talented police officers from the Lenox PD, the Berkshire County Sheriffs Dept., etc. empty all of those lots in an amazing short time. (10 minutes?). I've sent crowd control people from the stadiums in NY and Fenway Park to study how on earth they perform this miracle every night! So not to worry.

Go and enjoy. Lawn tickets are a steal at about $22.00 (as of summer 2017), tickets inside the Shed are considerably more but might well be worth it on those special occasions......meaning a special concert or a special event for your family.

Never have I been to an opera until I visited Tanglewood last summer. An ah-mazing and something you must do when visiting the Berks in the summer months!

If you are traveling through the Berkshire Mtn anytime in the summer and you want to see/listen to music, this is a beautiful venue to enjoy. Though the weather was hotter than what the locals told us it usually is, we managed to find shade. Lawn seating for a James Taylor concert. Would come again if in the area.

My wife and I have never had the opportunity to attend a concert at Tanglewood so it was nice to visit a new site.

The facility is beautiful, well kept and clean. All of the folks helped you get parked (which was free for the concert we attended) and an easy walk to the site. Restrooms were large and clean. Security did a great job of moving folks quickly into the concert. Layout was easy to find your seat and there were many, many ushers around to help you get there. The sound was great!

Sadly now, a couple of negative points. Being that the venue was designed for the Bostons Pops orchestra to perform in, the seating wasn't sloped as much as a standard venue might have normally been. It was almost flat which made viewing the stage difficult because of people standing in front of you is you wanted to be seated.

The crowd control people didn't really seem very well trained at what their roles were. We had two that were standing at the aisle of one of the sections, blocking view of the performance on stage. I went up to them and politely asked if they would mind sitting in the folding chairs which the venue provided for them. They said they had to stand for security reasons, while most of the other aisles, the security people were seated so as to not block the view of THE PAYING CUSTOMERS. About half way thru the featured performance, a supervisor type person was making they way around and I asked him if they had to stand. He walked over and told them to SIT DOWN! They were clearly not happy I asked.

While these security people were intended to check tickets for the area, they allowed non-ticketed "lawn seating" people to gather in the aisles, totally blocking the view of ticketed customers that purchased higher priced "seated" tickets. It got to the point where so many people were upset that I was concerned it might get physical. Finally that "supervisor" came back with more staff to break up the crowd that had gathered. The under-trained people just let it get out of control.

Lastly, in a concert of thousands of viewers, you can request that not photos or videos be taken so as to not disturb the others watching the concert, but the security people have to enforce it fairly. They can't go crazy about on person taking pictures and not say one word to the person directly next to and behind the person that have their cameras up too. Also, you can't only enforce it with the first two rows around the edge while there are 100 screens seen in the middle of the crowd.. That got people who were spoken to when they would point out people next to them and the security people would shrug their shoulders with the "what can we do" look on their face... Not a good scene...

Performance great...
Sound in venue, great...
Bathrooms and food..... Great
Venue staff and ushers.... Great
Out front security people... Great
In concert security staff... TERRIBLE

We attended a wedding on the beautiful grounds of Tanglewood and the event was dazzling. The setting overlooking the Stockbridge Bowl was magnificent, the grounds were pristine and the weather was
warm but not hot. The honeysuckle was in bloom and aromatic along with the lupine and wild flowers.

This was our first visit to Tanglewood, it won't be our last.
We sat on the lawn, walked on the grounds, and toured the visitors center.
The staff was very friendly, music was great, and there were smiling people everywhere we looked. A GREAT TIME.

Recently visited Tangelwood for the first time in many years. Luckily, it had not changed at all. Fantastic sound from the Shed. The scenery is unmatched from any other venue we’ve visited. Hope to get back one day.

Tanglewood has long been on my "bucket list" and we finally made it. It's a really neat place to see and hear music. We had tickets in the shed, since we were only there for one night and didn't want to take a chance on the weather. But if you are flexible, lawn tickets are perfect and only $25. We picnicked on the lawn first, took our stuff back to the car, and then walked around the property and found our seats in the shed. Really, a magical evening.

Try to go at least once a year. Summer home of the Boston symphony. Always great music and you can enjoy a picnic on the lawn, or seats in the shed. There are also other types of music played during the day. Check out their website for the array of music available.

We visit Tanglewood several times each summer and have seen a variety of concerts. We’re never disappointed! We typically buy lawn seats and bring a picnic. We can’t always see the performers well, but there are large screens that project what’s going on on the stage, and we go to hear the music! We have purchased the box meals; they are pricey but tasty with a variety of local offerings. It’s great fun people watching, and the concerts are always wonderful! It typically cools off at night, so bring a sweater for an evening concert (even if it’s hot during the day). If you attend an afternoon concert, bring some type of coverage from the sun, as there are few trees.

Have never been in the shed, but the lawn is just fine for us. Worth going if a (star) your like is performing. Getting there is ok, but leaving? Traffic is God awful.

Went to see James Taylor here on July 3, 2018. Got there early and glad we did. Gates open at 5. It was our first time there. Our daughter had gifted the tickets for my birthday (and my wife's). We were seated in the "SHED", a little covered amphitheater that seats maybe 400 people?! If you didn't get tickets for actual seating in the shed, there was plenty of room on the lawn. I would venture to guess there were possibly 1,000 to 1,500 people on the lawn also.

It was a unique experience for us. Having never been, we didn't know what to expect or bring. It was very humid and hot while we were there. We took our time walking around the 150 acre estate prior to the concert. There are numerous places to eat and buy ice cream, drinks and gifts. (Prices are typical tourist trap prices- $5.00 for a Good Humor Ice Cream on a stick! $4-5.00 for drinks (water, soda). Or, if you want, you can bring coolers with whatever you wish to eat and drink. Bring folding chairs, blankets or tarps. It's a completely pic-nick type atmosphere. The attendants we saw all seemed to be very friendly and quick to say "Hello!", even when just passing.

By getting there early, we were able to park pretty close to the entrance. Free parking! It was pretty cool when we left because being so close to the exit, it took less than 5 minutes to hit the highway!

Tanglewood is a music center and school. It is the summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The James Taylor concert was also a fundraiser for the venue. Officially, its seating capacity is 5,700, so I am probably off by quite a bit with how many people were there.

There is a strong police presence at the entrances and along the roads outside the venue. They are friendly and willing to answer questions. Inside, there are plenty of staff with great attitudes and always willing to help. Great place.

A great concert by the Boston Symphony. Loved the big screen so you could see close-ups of the players even out on the lawn. Loved the way people decorated their spaces on the lawn with candles and vases of flowers. Wonderful view over the Berkshires off to the side and cosy-making atmosphere with trees surrounding the lawn. Good sandwiches and drinks for sale and all the staff extremely helpful.

First timers. what a fantastic experience. sat in the shed area. Great views and sounds. Would definitely go back again and spend more time there before the show. users are tough to get if you are not driving.

This is definitely a wonderful venue! Attended on August 19th, the afternoon performance featuring cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Just one down-side, our transportation arrived later than we expected so there seemed to be few options for obtaining lunch/sandwiches in the last hour before the 2:30pm bell. The food building near the gift shop was out of many offerings; the "take-away" almost empty. Lesson learned to pack a picnic, but it seems like revenue opportunity lost. Line for ice cream very long before performance; and some snack kiosks were not open on a day that was very crowded. Limited healthy choice options for food overall. That being said, concert was great and wonderful attention to those needing wheelchairs (attendees were met by young people with chairs as they exited buses) and any extra assistance.

Steve Miller band along with Peter Frampton. Just brought a ton of memories of long ago back.... and made some new memories with our adult kids and grandkids. Tanglewood is definitely a special place. If you’ve never been... well you don’t know what your missing. Bring your picnic basket ( including your favorite bottle of wine) and sit back on the lawn and enjoy!

We have been going here for over 35 years.....a must do in the Berkshires.....get here early for great music and bring your own food and drink....it’s the best!

Went to the Jackson Browne concert. HORRENDOUS acoustics. This is a music venue. (I was inside the shed). IT was more echoey than a high school gymnasium. I suggest that if you want to hear music and understand what the singers are singing you head to a different venue. WASTE OF MONEY!!! two hours I can never get back....

An absolutely wonderful venue, clean and friendly. Parking was not a problem and the entrance moved quickly. I like the fact that you can bring your own item in , so get ready for a picnic before the show. There is NO bad place on the lawn. Only thing is that I think the signage for vendors (if you need) or the restrooms be a little more visible. Great time , great night. Can not believe we live so close and just finally went there,

We enjoyed a fantastic day at Tanglewood to hear the BSO with Joshua Bell as the featured soloist. We arrived early so that we could explore the grounds and get a feel for the lawn scene (which was delightful with every sort of people enjoying themselves with family and friends, picnicking, and anticipating some great music). We had not brought a picnic, so went through the cafeteria-like area that actually had some nice light fare options.

We had seats in the pavilion which seems the best way to fully enjoy the concert. It is nice that they allow folks to spend time on the lawn, then take all their belongings back to their cars and be readmitted for the concert. If we make it back, we'll definitely take our own picnic.

We attended the August 5th evening performance of the Boston Pops, with David Newman and John Williams (!) conducting film music. Although I have been to the Berkshires several times, this was my first concert at Tanglewood. As I booked the tickets only a week prior, we were on the lawn. I did check out reports on what to bring, but, wow, some folks really go all out!

We had a blanket and 3 folding canvas chairs, and picked up some charcuterie, salads, wine, and other treats in Lenox just before leaving, to make up our picnic dinner. The gates open at 5:30, and we got there shortly after. Arriving early did allow us to get a decent location, with view of the high-resolution LED screens. If you are on the lawn, you will not be able to see the actual stage during the concert, but everything is shown on multiple screens, and the sound is excellent. We were also exceedingly fortunate to have near perfect weather (mid-low 70s, light breeze). I did use mosquito repellent, but really didn't see much in the way of bugs all night.

While waiting for the 8:00 concert to begin, we enjoyed our picnic, and watched as the lawn continued to fill up. Some people go all out, with low camp tables covered with tablecloths, a vase of flowers, a candelabra, and even an ice bucket for their wine. By the time the concert began, the lawn was packed with thousands of people. If you need to use the restroom, do it before the concert...the lawn is very dark once the concert begins, and it is hard to find your way back (not to mention rude walking in front of, over, and around folks who are trying to enjoy the music.)

The concert was amazing! It was a greatest-hits of Williams movie music, performed admirably by the orchestra and Tanglewood Chorus. Williams was called back for 3 encores, ending, of course, with the Imperial March from Star Wars.

Exiting Tanglewood is an exercise in patience. There are only a few roads leading in and out, and getting some 15-20,000 folks out of there all at once takes time. I think it was a good 45-50 minutes before we got from our lot to the center of Lenox, where the the traffic opened up. We parked in the Lower Beech lot. If you plan for it to take a long time, you won't be as aggravated. If you are in a hurry, this is NOT the place to be.

We were excited to visit and see the summer home of Boston Orchestra since 1937. Like in our case even without the opportunity to participate in a concert it is good to just see the premises. Next time will aim at seeing a performance on the lawn kind of like in Philadelphia in Mann’s Music Center. Great memories.

This was our second (and third) visit to Tanglewood, and our second visit to the US from the UK specifically for these concerts. Tanglewood is a very special place and the concerts are very special too. This visit we brought our children (9 and 12) to experience it too, and they were not disappointed.

This time we bought lawn tickets for the Boston Pops with John Williams conducting. The concert was amazing and the atmosphere just superb. There were thousands of us on the lawn so space was at a premium but you know it’s going to be at a concert like that. We arrived about 30 minutes before the gates opened at 2pm and the queue was pretty lengthy then, but the staff handled it well and when the gates opened we moved in rapidly. One guy told us he’d been coming every year for 60 years and never seen so many people!

We also had lawn tickets for Tanglewood on Parade but we upgraded these to shed tickets due to the weather forecast. The weather was very rainy but most activities continued. The concert and fireworks were excellent.

All in all another two fantastic Tanglewood experiences. I would recommend this place highly.

My college kids took me to see Andy Grammer; it was an amazingly gorgeous evening in the Berkshires, where we could picnic on the lawn before the show. Andy was amazing too, the crowd was super into it and Andy demonstrated what a strong performer he is!

We had Shed seats, which I would recommend for a concert that is going to have you on your feet. The lawn is not so conducive to dancing and having fun. We stood the entire time, dancing and moving up closer to the stage. Great evening, Andy. Thanks for your love!

A very pleasant afternoon in the Berkshires, picnicking on the lawn in the shade of a tree, about a hundred yards from the Shed where Yo Yo Ma was the guest. BYOB, food and chairs, and arrive at least an hour and a half before the concert - or else you could be trundling your stuff an extra half-mile each way through the vast parking lot field.

First time seeing a concert there and we were impressed. Beautiful area with friendly staff. Nice peaceful ambiance. We sat inside and had great seats for Squeeze. We thought it would be a 2 hour show. We didn't know there was going to be 2 great opening acts (KT Tunstall and The Mavericks). 2 hours turned to 4 hours of great music. Everyone seemed to be there to have a good friendly time without any obnoxious characters in the audience. We were impressed with how easy it was to leave after the show ended. They certainly know what they are doing to get you out quickly. We look forward to seeing more concert there.

I visited Tanglewood for the first time during a recent trip to the Berkshires, so I was not sure what to expect. I was interested in seeing Steven Martin and Martin Short perform at the end of the season, and based on other reviews I read of Tanglewood, I thought it would be better to get seats in the "Shed", which are covered from the elements. I looked into buying the tickets a month before the event, and all that was left was a large section of seating that indicated "partially obstructed". When I checked other reviews of my seats (Section 15, Row F), the seats were deemed good, so I booked them (they were not cheap!). Please be advised that "partially obstructed" truly means "fully obstructed," as I sat a few rows behind a supporting column and could not see ANYTHING -- the performers OR the screen. The seats also are either folding chairs or wooden, and were very uncomfortable (you can rent a pillow for $2.00). Many of the people on the lawn had a better view of the performance, because a large screen was mounted outside the Shed, and I would have been better off there if I knew. There were two large screens inside that they could have pulled down, but apparently, that only is for nighttime performances. I suppose if you are listening to music, the visuals are not as important, but I wish I was forewarned. Steven Martin and Martin Short put on a great show, but I missed a lot of it, because I could not see projections on the screen. I would have enjoyed the show much more if I had been at a different venue.

Went, with friends, to see the Reba McIntire concert on Labor Day weekend. We had lawn seats and brought our own food, drinks, chairs & table. The concert was outstanding even though we were on the lawn outside the shed.. There was a large external screen and we could listen to the performance from the outside speakers, which was very good. The audience was mostly made up of families, all well behaved and having a good time. People were friendly and we chatted with others freely. There are a number of wine cellers in the area which offer wine tasting and wonderful views. We visited two before the concert. We are currently planning for the 2020 season.

I love this venue, and I can’t wait to come back for another concert. The lawns are expansive and beautiful. The music can be heard perfectly from the lawn. They also have large screens for lawn viewers as well.

Love it! On our annual pilgrimage from our North of Boston home. We had just enough time for a homemade picnic on the lawn and we’re safely in our seats in the amphitheater before the skies opened up. Music was lovely, parking was easy, stayed the night at the wonderful Church Street Inn and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Alta. Perfect one-night-get-a-way (Sunday-Monday).

We got lucky. Managed to make a day trip here on the second last day of the festival. It's on my to-do list for next summer already.

Fabulous venue, very well managed and clean facilities. If you love music or you kinda love music, check it out. If you have heard the music of the artists before, good for you. If not, don't hesitate to go still.

The atmosphere is charged up. Kids playing and running around, picnic mats, chairs, tables, charcuterie boards, instant pots, flowers in vases, tea light electric candles, rugs, blankets, champagne... make a picnic out of it. Go early. Find a spot. Read a book till the concert starts. It feels communal yet has it's own private feel.

You won't regret it.

We were first-time visitors to Tanglewood. We arrived in Lenox 70 minutes before the start of the John Williams concert on Saturday, August 5th. It took 60 minutes to get to the overflow parking lot which was down a hill. It was even worse to leave. The concert ended at 11. It took as long to get out of the parking lot when the concert was over. There was NO ONE in the overflow lot to direct traffic when the concert was over. There were THREE different queues to get out of the lot. Only one car could exit at a time. There was one "sheriff" and two kids with light wants in the road "managing" the exit from the regular lot, the overflow lot and the reserved lot for season ticket holders. Unbelievable.Dealing with parking took nearly as long as the concert and ruined our mood. We will NEVER go back.

Rear seats under the Tanglewood shed are a great value, arguably the lowest-priced seats of any Northeast music venue, including SPAC. The sound is partially amplified but excellent. Two drawbacks - the last 20+ rows are placed on nearly flat ground, making it difficult to see over those in front of you. Then there are 3 large pillars supporting the roof that can obstruct the view of center stage partially or almost entirely.

I asked the box office for the best seats available "keyboard" side in the rear seating area (Yuji Wang was the featured pianist). My view of the stage is seen in the attached photo. Never again will I rely on Tanglewood box office advice. Avoid Section 15. Upgrade to better seats in the case of ANY stage performance where seeing is as important as hearing.

The Tanglewood Cafe is a good choice with ample, cafeteria-style seating and premium, but not ridiculous, prices - $9.00 for a modest size sandwich.

Companion has wanted to see James Taylor's 4th of July concert for decades. We did it! We had great seats, but it was a once in a lifetime experience. James Taylor puts on a great show. He sang all of his most popular hits and a few new ones, persisting for two and one half hours. He has amazing stamina for a 70-year-old man.

Tanglewood is laid out well, but getting through the crowd of 23,000 from the concessions and gates to the shed is a challenge, especially if you have a walking disability. The staff does its best to accommodate the disabled, but one thing that would help tremendously is to mark and keep clear pathways to the shed. We had to detour around the thousands on the lawn to get in after we ate supper at the grill. They do offer cart rides from the parking lot to the main gate, but if you are disabled, we strongly recommend you bring along your walker or any other walking assistive devices you own. Navigating these grounds, especially on the uneven surfaces, will wear you out.

The fireworks after the concert were spectacular. We had not seen a performance like that in years. For nearly a half hour afterwards, the artillerists were shooting off random rockets that had been passed over during the main performance. Pity all the poor doggies and cats in the neighborhood who had to listen to the explosions.

The Berkshire County Sheriff's department personnel are experts on herding a crowd this size into the parking lots. The staff of young people, however, was not proficient at getting cars out in good order. We noticed that they did not communicate well with each other, and some had no clue as to what to do when several lines of traffic tried to merge. We saw one traffic controller have to leave his position several times to go tell another one what to do. It took us one hour to go three miles.

We’ve been to Tanglewood before, just not with tens of thousands also in attendance. We would love to return and quietly enjoy the grounds, as we’ve done in the past.

Tanglewood resort is the very best place to stay on lake texoma! We after staying their first time in 2012, never stay anyplace else. Megan and staff were,and are the best, best service, best place ever.They went way out of their way to help me withy husband,who's has dementia....it was the most pleasant experience in ever.thanks Daisy Hillenbrand

I love the venue and try to visit every year. Bring a picnic, buy a lawn entry, sit in your chair and enjoy. I just found the bus company which takes back and forth to Boston area. I am trying this soon, and I'll let you know. Calendar ends soon so make your plans!

Wonderful time and very relaxing. The atmosphere was unique. I loved watching everyone set up and customize their individual area. You can tell the regulars from the newbies, and it didn’t matter, everyone had a great time.

STILL GOING STRONG

Tanglewood hosted its first concerts in the 1930s, and it’s still going strong. The music is wonderful – for decades, outstanding musicians from Itzhak Perlman to Miles Davis to James Taylor have performed there. We recently heard the great Yo Yo Ma, not to mention the Boston Symphony Orchestra. You can listen in a covered seated area, the Shed, or outside on the surrounding grounds.

Be advised, though: it’s not an easy expedition. Performances are usually packed, and the traffic jams can be arduous. Food offered is okay, but it’s expensive, and you might want to bring your own. One of the gift shops, Glass House I, was very hot and crowded, and we didn’t stay long. Even so, the quality of the music makes it worth the trouble.

As a local resident , I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have the Boston symphony and Boston Pops in my back yard in the summer. This has been another season of great inexpensive entertainment. Recent film night performance with John Williams was a great evening on the lawn for picnic and music. Fridays Pops concert of ET was another great night.

My sister-in-law & her husband took me to see Josh Groban one night, and then James Taylor the next night. Both concerts were wonderful, but in their own way. I had never been to an outdoor concert. This was a truly exception venue.

First time here and what a great experience...no hassle at entry... bring your umbrellas and chairs and food and drinks...so nice to feel like a valued customer...no search of our coolers or purses or anything...prices were reasonable for food and drinks ....not like so many other venues... I will go here before Darien Lake...Syr Amp....CMAC...!! All other venues need to go here and see how it’s done!!

Tanglewood is great if you want to stage a massive picnic with all your friends, play lawn games, and listen to music in the background. People go way early to set up elaborate areas. It's family friendly and the facilities are nice.

However, as someone who really loved the bands playing and wanted to hear them, I found that having a grass ticket was a nightmare. People talking and not at all paying attention, making it difficult to hear the actual bands. And you can't stand at the back of the stage area, a set up which I honestly think is quite petty. Make a pathway a little farther back if you want, but you're really going to tell folks that they can't stand in an unobtrusive space to see the band? Buying a grass ticket means you can only look on the screens?

I also found the staff to be rude. I was accidentally standing in the wrong area and moved when I was asked. However, the staff were unclear about where I could stand and kept berating me to mov again. All the while, there were folks actually standing a short distance away IN FRONT OF WHEELCHAIR USERS, which she completely ignored when I pointed out.

So, in sum: Tanglewood, fix your policies to stop penalizing folks for wanting to see their band and spend more of your time actually fixing disrupting behavior (like the folks that kept smoking in the grass area). I don't think it's the right venue for me, but if I ever go back I'll cough up the money to be in the shed so I can actually get the full musical experience.

We saw the Earth, Wind, and Fire Concert here and it was fantastic. The sound quality was tremendous in the shed. The distances to the parking areas can be greater than expected and could have more signage to navigate.

We were given tickets to the BSO for Christmas present and were thrilled as we usually sit on the lawn..which is fun but it was nice to get good seats inside..however we found the inside to be dirty..the seats ,the floor,( the bathrooms are gross...)
We had spiders dropping down from the rafters all night long..it was very gross and although we loved the music, we won't go back to sit in there.
Seriously people..time to upgrade the space!

Excellent, excellent!! The sound system is great and the shows we attended - Josh Groban and James Taylor - were heavenly!!!